LIBRARY 

PRI\1  ETO]V,  ^.  J. 


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DISCOURSED 


ON 


THE  DEPRAVITY  OF  THE  HUMAN  FAMILY ; 


PARTICULARLY  APPLIED  TO 


THIS  NATION  AND  THESE  TIMES 


UWI)£K  HIS  DIVIKE  MASTER  t 


SACRED  HISTORICAL  PAINTER,  AUTHOR  OF  "THE  MESSIAH,"  A  POEM, 
AND  "  THE  soul's  AID,"  &C. 


"  Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faitli  prove  your  ownselves.— 
Know  ye  not  your  ownselves,  how  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye  be  repro- 
bates 1" 

[2d  Coi.  13th  chap.,  5th  verse. 


HARRISBURG,  Pa. 

PRINTED  BY  R.  S.  ELLIOTT  &  CO* 

1S39. 


To  the  numerous  descendants  of  Adam,  who  fell  from 
his  high  and  holy  estate,  even  from  the  Image  of  God  his 
Father,  and  thus  brought  the  curse  upon  all  posterity  ;  as  in 
him, all  are  subject  to  death,  so  in  Christ,  whom  we  preach, 
all  may  hve.  Therefore,  to  all  who  have  immortal  souls  to 
save  these  pages  are  respectfully  submitted. 

By  the  Author. 


CONTENTS 


DISCOURSE  I. 

Examine  yourselves  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith;  prove  your 
ownselves;  Know  ye  not  your  ownselves,  how  that  Jesus 
Christ  IS  in  you,  except  ye  be  reprobates? 

[2(1  Cor.,  1 3th  chap.,  6th  verse. 

DISCOURSE  II. 

Faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  liearing  by  tlie  word  of  God. 

[Romans,  10th  chap.,  17th  verse. 

DISCOURSE  III. 

Father,  glorify  thy  name.  Then  came  there  a  voice  from 
Heaven,  saying:  1  have  both  glorified  it,  and  will  glorify 
it  again. 

[John,  12th  chap.,  28th  verse. 

DISCOURSE  IV. 

And  we  are  his  witnesses  of  these  things  ;  and  so  is  also  the 
Holy  Ghost,  whom  God  hath  given  to  tliem  that  they  obey 
him. 

When  they  heard  that,  they  were  cut  to  the  heart,  and  took 
counsel  to  slay  them, 

[Acts,  oth  chap.,  32d  &  33d  verses. 

DISCOURSE  V. 

Jesus  Christ  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever. 
Be  not  carried  about  with  divers  and  strange  doctrines ;  for 

it  is  a  good  thing  that  the  heart  be  established  with  grace  ; 

not  with  meats,  which  have  not  profited  them  that  have 

been  occupied  therein. 

[Hebrews,  13th  chap.,  8th  &.  9th  verses. 

DISCOURSE  VI. 

If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  commandments  ; 

And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you  another 
Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you  forever ; 

Eve7i  the  spirit  of  truth;  whom  the  world  cannot  receive, 
because  it  seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth  him:  but  ye 
k.now^  him ;  for  he  dwelleth  with  you  and  shall  be  in  you.. 
[John,  14th  chap.,  15th,  16th  &  17th  verses*. 


,v  CONTENTS. 

DISCOURSE  VII. 

As  it  19  written,  there  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one : 
There  is  none  that  understandeth,  there  is  none  that  seeketh 

after  God. 
They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they  are  together  become 

unprofitable ;  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one. 
[Romans,  3d  chap.,  10th,  llth  &  12th  verses. 

DISCOURSE  VIII. 

Then,  said  he,  to  the  multitude  that  came  forth  to  be  bapti" 
sed  of  him,  O  generation  of  vipers!  who  hath  warned  you 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ? 

Bring  forth,  therefore,  fruits  worthy  of  repentance,  and  be- 
gin not  to  say  witlun  yourselves,  We  have  Abraham  to 
our  Father  ;  for  1  say  unto  you,  That  God  is  able  of  these 
stones  to  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham. 

And  now,  also,  the  axe  is  laid  unto  the  root  of  the  trees  ? 
every  tree,  therefore,  which  bringeth  not  forth  good  fruity 
is  hewn  down  and  cast  into  the  fire. 

[LAike,  3d  chap.,  7th,  8th  &l  9th  verses. 

DISCOURSE  IX. 

Jesus  Christ  has  become  to  us  righteousness,  wisdom,  sane- 
tification  and  redemption. 

[1st  Cor.,  1st  chap.,  30th  verse. 

DISCOURSE  X. 

On  the  first  resurrection  and  thousand  years  reign  of  Christ 
with  his  saints  upon  earth. 

[Revelation,  19  chap. 

DISCOURSE  XI. 

The  Judgment  Morning. 

DISCOURSE  XIL 

The  New  Heavens  and  Earth. 


PEIHGfiTOH 


THE0L,0GI01.L 
P  R  E  F  A  ^^B^limx^^^t^^ 

It  may  aot  be  encroaching  too  much  on  the  reader's  time^ 
nor  altogether  unedifying,  by  prefacing  these  Discourses  with 
a  brief  outline  or  sketch  of  my  life,  and  the  dealings  of  my 
Heavenly  Father  with  me;  by  the  order  of  whose  Provi- 
dence I  was  born  o»  the  1 5th  of  October,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  1 805,  in  the  county  of  Dauphin,  one  mile  from  Hum- 
melstown  and  about  ten  from  Harrisburg,  the  Capital  of 
Penns3dvania.  The  farm-house  stands  about  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  Irom  the  romantic  stream  called  the  "  Swatara, " 
the  land  bordering  on  the  same,  on  which  is  a  cave^  its  spa- 
cious entrance  or  expanded  mouth  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
flowing  stream,  which  has  been  visited  by  many  of  the 
surrounding  country,  and  travellers  from  distant  climes,  as 
one  of  ihs  curiosities  of  nature,  but  formed  probably  by 
the  Almighty  for  higher  and  more  useful  purposes,  to  the 
bodies  and  souls  of  men,  than  to  be  viewed  as  a  mere  show, 
as  in  former  times  it  sheltered  nature's  children,  the  untutored 
heathen,  from  the  ruthless  wintry  blasts  and  pelting  storms, 
and  may  yet  answer  a  similar  purpose.  It  contains  several 
apartments  of  various  magnitude,  thirty  feet  or  upwards  in 
height ;  a  purling  rill  glides  along  the  side  of  one  of  them, 
with  many  other  things  worthy  of  note  to  the  admirers  of  our 
gracious  God  and  bis  works,  such  as  icicles  or  fluted  columns 
of  congealed  water,  many  feet  in  height,  and  as  hard  as  rock; 
others  somewhat  in  the  shape  of  a  human  being,  &c.  &c, 
A  description  may  be  fouad  in  one  of  the  modern  Geogra- 
phies, published  some  years  since. 

My  parents  belonged  to  the  Lutheran  denomination:  of 
my  mother  I  know  but  little,  as  she  was  called  hence  when 
I  was  but  about  six  years  old ;  but  1  hope  she  ended  her 
course  with  joy,  and  was  received  to  the  right  hand  of  the 
Majesty  on  High,  through  our  beloved  Saviour,  to  sing  with 


VI  PREFACE. 

the  Angels  and  all  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord,  the  song  of 
Moses  and  the  Lamb,  forever  and  ever. 

My  Father  u^as  beloved  by  his  neighbors  as  an  honest  and 
upright  man  ;  his  removal  to  another  place  of  residence  a  few 
years  before  his  death,  caused  a  general  grief  among  his 
nearest  neighbors,  althougii  of  different  persuasions,  some 
of  whom  said  they  would  never  again  have  such  a  true 
friend  lo  reside  among  them.  He  was  a  lover  of  and  adhered 
strictly  to  the  truth ;  his  word  was  his  bond  in  all  matters  of 
importance. 

He  was  at  church  whenever  there  v/as  preaching,  nor 
scarcely  ever  missed;  and  I  aui  induced  to  believe,  had  great 
refreshings  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  at  sacramental 
communions,  which  he  attended  regularly,  and  always 
seemed  to  be  renewed  in  the  inner  man  ;  which  that  divine 
instituted  feast  of  the  dying  love  of  our  blessed  Lord  and 
Saviour  will  so  eminently  impart,  when  partook  of  worthily, 
in  a  proper  state  of  heart,  mind  and  soul,  according  to  the 
words  of  our  dear  Redeemer,  and  his  Apostles.  My  Father 
loved  to  read  the  bible  and  meditate  ou  the  word  of  God, 
and  delighted  to  converse  with  his  fi lends  on  the  same 
subject ;  which  1  frequently  listened  to  for  hours  with  edifi- 
tion.  He  was,  doubtlesi,  divinely  supported  under  great 
personal  and  family  afflictioas,  when  laboring  under  partial 
blindness,  and  during  two  separate  operations,  confined  in  a 
dark  room,  which  resulted,  although  nearly  blind,  in  tolera- 
ble perf'-ction  of  sight,  under  Divine  Providence,  by  some 
skill  of  the  physician  as  a  means.  Probably,  however,  more 
ia  answer  to  fervent  prayer,  as  he  was  a  man  of  prayer;  and 
our  blessed  Father  says,  "  when  thou  art  in  trouble  call 
upon  me  and  T  will  deliver  thee  and  thou  shalt  glorify  me." 

Yes,  he  was  a  man  of  prayer,  that  blessed  grace  of  the 
true  christian,  which  wafts  the  soul  aloft  to  hold  sweet  com- 
munion with  our  Holy  Father,  and  brings  his  blessings  down 
upon  our  heads  ;  renovates  the  old  man  ;  changes  the  heart ; 
■casts  out  thedevil  and  his  filthiness,  and  brings  in  Christ,  with 
the  Father  and  Spirit,  according  to  St.  John,  14th  chapter 


PREFACE.  Vlt 

and  23d  verse;  and  thus  we  become  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  I  speak  of  true,  upright,  ppiriiuai  and  well-directed 
prayer; it  will  do  all  this.  ''  God  is  a  spirit,  and  they  that 
worship,  must  worship  hinri  in  spirit  and  in  truth." 

1  often  heard  my  deceased  father  pray  aloud,  wrestle  with 
God  on  his  knees  in  his  chamber ;  "when  ye  pray  enter  into 
your  closets  and  shut  the  door,  and  pray  to  your  Father 
which  is  in  secret,  and  your  Father  which  seeth  in  secret 
will  reward  you  openly;"  which  was  also  visibly  fulfilled. 
At  meals  he  would  always  lift  up  his  heart  to  the  bountiful 
§iver  o(  every  good  and  perfect  gift.  He  did  not  use  family 
worship  according  to  method,  but  instructed  his  children 
in  Godhness;  taught  the  oldest  to  pray,  and  made  it  their 
duty  when  retiring  to  rest,  to  instrucL  those  younger  in  the 
same  exercise.  He  unfolded  to  ns  the  plan  of  salvation  by 
repentance  to  God,  and  through  faith  in  a  crucified  Redeem- 
er, and  the  consequent  joys  to  be  shared  with  the  Holy 
Angels  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

He  would  suffer  no  sin  upon  any  of  his  children,  that  is,  to 
live  in  a  habit  contrary  to  die  word  of  God,  but  would  re- 
prove, and  his  words  had  to  be  obeyed  ;  there  was  firmness 
of  character  about  him,  blended  with  mildness  and  affection. 
His  children  were  regularly  schooled,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  the  place,  although  he  himself  had  but  one  month's 
schooling;  yet  he  could  write,  cast  up  accounts,  keep  his 
own  books,  and  read  well;  which  shows  what  may  be  ac- 
complished by  application,  in  Leu  of  idling  away  the  time  in. 
dissipation  and  wickedness,  which  an  all-wise  and  gracious 
God  measures  out  for  higher  and  nobler  purposes.  In  due 
time  his  children  were  disciplined  in  Godliness,  according  to 
the  rules  of  the  church  to  which  he  belonged,  instructed  in 
her  catechism  and  according  to  scripture,  to  deny  the  world, 
the  flesh,  and  the  devil;  and  live  godly,  sober,  righteous  and 
holy  lives;  and  to  believe  in  Jesus  the  only  Saviour  and  Me- 
diator, and  iSame  given  whereby  sinners  can  become  recon^ 
ciled  to  God,  and  finally  live  with  him  in  all  joy,  glory,  felici- 
ty, and  happiness,  forever  and  ever. 


VIII  PREFACE. 

I  have  been  thus  lengthy  in  memorialising  on  the  character 
of  my  father,  for  a  good  and   virtuous  man\«  life  will  bear 
examining,   and  is  worthy  of  record,  for  the  imitation  of  his 
fellow   creatures   sojourning  in  this  vale  of  tears.     If  his 
children  are  not  saved  through  Christ,  the  blame  will  not  at- 
tach to  him,  for  he  was  certainly  an  enemy  to  the  devil  and 
all  his  works,  and  dared  to  make  his  sentiments  k  nown  for 
the  benefit  of  his  family,  and  others  also.     He   might  have 
had  faults,  but  they  were  few,  not  living  in  any  confirmed 
sin,  to  my  knowledge.     And  above  all,  1  am  persuaded  in 
my  mind  that  he  triumphed  in  the  last  scene,  through  re- 
deeming love ;  1  was  not  present  when  his  spirit  took  flight, 
but  had  visited  him  at  intervals  during  his  combat  with  the 
enemy  of  the  souls  of  men,  and  therefore  have  every  reason 
to  believe  that  he  attained  the  victory ;  that  he  even  triumph- 
ed through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ;  for  1  heard  him  say  that 
our  Heavenly  Father  permitted   Satan   to  throw  his  fiery 
darts  at  him,  but  that  his  hope  was  good  and  his  confidence 
sure  ;  he  was  much  refieshed  during  his  trial,  by  having  the 
scripture  promises  and  similar  hymns  read  to  him,  and  which 
aided  also  in  repelling  the  devil's  artillery  levelled  against 
him.     To  the  attending  physicians  he  said,  that  he  was  not 
afraid  to  die,  for  he  had  hope  of  a  better  life  beyond  the  grave; 
probably  meditating  on  the  words  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  "I 
am  the  resurrection  and   the  life,   he  that  belie veth  on  me 
though  he  were  dead  yet  shall  he  live ;  and  he  that  liveth  and 
believeth   in  me  shall  never  die."     The  evening  before  the 
day  his  soul  took  its  departure,  he  told  my  brother  to  open 
the  shutters  that  he  might  behold  the  glory  of  the  Sun  for  the 
last  time,  as  though  he  had  a  presentiment  that  his  departure 
was  near — and  was  probably  comparing  his  glory  with  the 
glory  of  the  Greater   Sun  of  Righteousness,  and  the  lustre 
and  effulgence  of  the   Deity.     The  next  day  about  one 
o'clock   his  soul  took  its  vleparture  to  another  and  a  better 
world,  to  sing  with  the  holy  hosts  on  high  praises  and  Halle- 
lujahs to  our  God  and  Saviour,  through  the  countless  ages  of 
eternity. 


PREFACE.  IX 

1  come  now  to  say  more  about  myself.  And  why  should  I 
write  about  myself,  who  am  but  dust  and  ashes,  but  to  make 
known  to  dying  sinners  the  love  of  a  crucified  Redeemer; 
to  set  myself  forth  as  a  living  witness  of  the  divine  mercy ;  to 
testify  that  there  is  plenteous  salvation  through  faith  in  Jesus, 
and  also  to  induce  others  to  close  in  with  the  gracious  over- 
tures of  mercy  ere  it  be  forever  too  late ;  ere  their  earthly 
course  is  ended,  and  they  find  themselves  in  the  place  assign- 
ed to  all  apostate  spirits,  and  those  that  die  outoKJhrist> 
that  die  under  the  law  ;  that  die  in  their  sins. 

1  was  the  seventh  child  of  my  parents  according  to  the 
order  of  Providence,  which  some  would  consider  in  itself  as 
an  omen  of  good  •,  but  whether  it  is  worthy  of  any  faith,  I 
very  much  doubt,  for  with  God  all  things  are  possible.  1 
sometimes  of  late,  have  had  it  impressed  on  my  mind,  that  as 
Jeremiah,  the  good  Lord  had  separate  J  me  from  my  mother's 
womb  for  useful  purposes  under  Him,  to  my  fellow  beings  ; 
to  suffer  for  them  in  His  name  and  to  glorify  Him. 

My  disposition  from  childhood  was  sedate  and  retiring,  and 
somewhat  romantic ;  imbibed  probably  from  the  wild  scenery 
along  the  before-mentioned  stream,  on  the  banks  of  which  1 
would  often  perambulate  alone,  and  with  others,  and  in  ca- 
noes on  the  water,  one  of  which,  by  foolishness,  was  upset 
at  one  time  and  the  whole  party,  consisting  of  four,  were 
plunged  into  the  water,  from  which,  after  struggling  awhile* 
the  good  Lord  delivered  us  all,  after  having  been  repeatedly 
called  upon,  *'  God  1"  "  God  !"  whenever  my  head  was 
above  water ;  which  circumstance  I  find  thus  in  a  verse  of  a 
brief  poem  of  my  life : 

"  Thy  love  to  me  with  shepherd^s  care, 
In  childhood  in  thine  arms  did'st  bare, 
And  smile  upon  this  humble  frame  ; 
As  years  advanced,  thou  still  the  same, 
A  God  of  Love  and  ever  nigh, 
To  hear  my  moan  and  louder  cry  ; 
"  God  !  0  God  ! !"  thou  wast  near  to  save, 
And  rescue  me  from  a  wat'ry  grave." 

Thus  in  mercy  1  was  spared;  had  it  been  otherwise,! 


X  PREFACE. 

might  not  have  fared  as  well  as  1  am  now  certain  of  doing 
when  the  Lord  pleases  to  call  nie  from  this  earthly  stage ; 
as  1  had  no  assurance  of  acceptance  through  the  "beloved," 
and  consequently,  would  have  perished  body  and  soul.  O, 
the  need  of  being  at  all  times  prepared,  from  even  the  cradle 
to  the  grave,  for  an  exit  out  of  this  world!  May  I  ever  be 
thankful  to  my  Holy  Father  for  this  deliverance,  with  all 
previous,  and  those  since:  for  His  encompassing  me  with  His 
everlasting  arms,  both  by  sea  and  by  land  ;  but  above  all, 
for  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

My  education  was  that  of  a  common  country  school ; 
reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  all  of  which  1  could  man- 
age with  considerable  ease  ;  particularly  the  latter,  in  which 
1  was  considered  an  adept;  having  mastered  two  books  by 
different  authors,  together  with  Boneycasile's  mensuration, 
surveying  and  guaging.  My  genius  developed  itself  in  this 
way,  and  also  in  drawing  with  pencil  and  pen  and  ink, 
figures  of  various  kinds  ;  the  gift  of  painting,  which  I  have 
since  brought  to  great  perfection,  was  therefore,  inherent 
from  childhood,  and  1  may  say  I  was  born  a  painter,  poet, 
and  man  of  genius.  Endowed  by  nature,  or  more  properly 
intrusted  by  my  Heavenly  Father,  with  these  brightest  of 
talents,  if  wisely  employed — therefore,  I  am  also  more  re* 
sponsible  than  many  others,  for  "to  whom  much  is  given,  from 
him  shall  be  much  requu'ed  ;"  as  per  the  ten  talents  to  one, 
five  to  another,  and  one  to  a  third,  and  their  reward  by  the 
Lord  accordingly.  No  one  is,  therefore,  excusable  for  bury- 
ing His  precious  gift,  much  less  for  misemploying  it — the 
soul  constitutes  the  man,  yet  every  one  need  not  be  a  paint- 
er or  a  poet  to  be  a  man^  to  be  of  elevated  mind  and  refined 
soul,  but  by  having  delight  in  the  exalted  things  from  above 
and  not  ia  those  from  Satan,  contrary  to  holiness,  which  he 
is  required  to  shun  and  abhor. 

As  I  hinted  at  already,  at  about  the  age  of  fifteen  1  attended 
the  village  church  with  many  others,  to  be  catechised  ;  during 
this  period  my  mind  was  more  serious,  more  abstracted  from 


PREFACE.  XI 

things  below,  more  wrought  upon  and  exercised  in  those  of 
a  boundless  elerniiy;  of  the  Divinity;  of  Heaven's  awful 
hohness.  I  felt  my  heart  elevated  in  love  to  the  Saviour^  who 
had  undergone  so  much  in  I  )ve  to  mankind — to  me,  yes  to  me, 
one  of  the  least ;  yet  notwithstanding,  I  felt  the  efficacy  of  his 
love  in  the  salvation  of  my  soul,  and  had  much  peace,  joy 
and  happiness  in  believing,  comfort  in  prayer  and  sweet- 
ness in  meditation ;  but  nothing  to  what  1  now  experience. 
With  delight  and  facility  I  could  commit  to  memory  the 
portion  from  time  to  time  assigned  me,  which  caused  our 
minister  to  have  a  particular  regard  for  me,  and  induced 
him  to  speak  frequently  to  my  lather  and  others  of  my 
abilities,  and  the  delight  1  took  in  the  exalted  things  of 
Heaven ;  which  created  a  desire  in  one  of  my  sisters  that  1 
should  study  for  the  ministry— at  whose  knees  I  was  often, 
in  previous  years,  enraptured  at  the  glowing  picture  she 
would  draw  of  the  joy  and  delight  of  H»'aven,  of  Paradise, 
of  the  Holy  Angels  and  ol  the  Saints,  the  redeemed  of  the 
Lord  ;  and  while  expatiating  on  the  benevolence  of  our 
blessed  Saviour,  the  love  which  he  bore  toward  us,  which 
constrained  him  to  sojourn  here  below,  which  caused  his 
passion  in  Gethsemane  and  his  death  on  Mount  Calvary,  of 
his  resurrection,  appearance  to  his  disciples,  ascension  and 
second  coming  in  transcendent  glory  with  all  the  holy  hosts 
from  on  high,  and  that  he  would  then  raise  our  bodies  and 
glorify  them,  like  unto  the  Angels,  to  live  with  and  enjoy' 
Him  in  the  New  Heavens  and  Earth  forever  and  ever;  in 
short,  she  would  expound  the  meaning  of  the  New  Testament 
to  me,  and  some  times  show  me  engravings  of  our  blessed  Sa- 
viour and  of  Holy  Angels,  which  aided  to  elevate  my  soul 
and  cause  it  to  soar  on  high  on  Angels'  wings;  be  charmed 
and  enraptured  with  the  bh-ssedness  of  Heaven;  the  holi- 
ness and  divine  glory  of  our  God  and  Father.  May  all 
young  ladies  do  likewise,  who  have  younger  sisters  and 
brothers ;  "as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree's  inclined."  Verily,  it 
is  the  duty  of  all  parents  to  instruct  and  have  their  children 


XII  PREFACE, 

instructed  in  godliness  ;  in  that  which  pertains  to  their  eter- 
nal welfare,  everlasting  life  and  happiness.  But  then  some- 
times they  are  called  out  of  this  world  of  trouble,  as  my 
mother,  when  some  of  their  children  are  yet  ni  tender  years, 
the  very  time  to  receive  holy  and  lasting  impressions  ;  then 
the  duty  devolves  more  directly  upon  the  older  members  of 
the  family  ;  and  O  how  lovely  !  how  beautiful  and  Angelic!! 
virtue  and  holiness  combined  in  the  female  character.  At 
these  seasons,  at  times  when  alone  and  looking  over  the 
fields,  I  could  almost  see  with  my  natural  eyes,  the  Saviour 
with  His  disciples  passing  along,  my  faith  being  so  vivid, 
which  caused  my  heart  to  leap  within,  and  be  filled  with 
such  heavenly  emotions  impossible  to  describe.  The  min- 
ister looked  about  to  find  one  to  pray  in  public  on  the  day 
of  confirmation,  and  selected  me  as  the  most  suitable ;  the 
prayer,  however,  was  not  extempore,  but  committed  to 
memory  out  of  a  book — in  which  duty  I  succeeded  pretty 
well.  I  was  confirmed  with  the  others  ;  denied  the  world, 
the  devil,  the  lusts  of  the  flesh ;  took  the  sacrament,  and  thus 
became  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  ;  1  had  true  com- 
fort and  sweet  peaci  through  Christ  in  God,  but  not  such  en- 
raptured joy  and  rejoicing  as  I  have  experienced  since, 
within  late  years ;  and  probably  not  the  perfect  love  which 
casts  out  all  fear  of  death  and  judgment ;  "  there  is  therefore 
now  no  condemnation  for  those  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus."  I 
had  now  for  some  time  much  serenity  of  soul  and  peace  af 
conscience,  but  by  degrees  it  wore  off  and  1  became  more 
worldly ;  the  passions  within  became  more  turbulent  and 
ungovernable,  so  that  by  the  time  of  the  next  sacrament  I 
absented  myself,  under  the  fear  of  not  being  able  to  discern 
the  Lord's  body,  and  thus  drink  damnation  to  myself;  and  so 
it  was  the  time  following.  1  did  not  live  or  indulge  in  any  gross 
sin,  but  yet  1  would  not  deny  myself  to  the  extent  1  promis- 
ed at  confimation,  and  therefore  knew  myself  unworthy. 

The  time  now  arrived  that  I  was  to  enter  on  a  trade,  and 
as  the  ministry,  as  1  thought,  required  too  much  sdf-denial  ; 
for  J  had  a  high  and  an  exalted  opinion  of  the  ambassadors 


PREFACE.  XIII 

of  Christ — those  that  are  true  shepherds ;  so  much  so  that 
I  shrunk  whenever  they  broached  the  subject,  on  account  of 
the  loftiness  and  responsibility  of  the  office ;  nevertheless, 
to  free  my  mind,  1  consulted  the  minister,  v^ho  would  not 
advise  me  either  way,  to  undertake  it  or  not ;  but  said  it  was 
a  high  and  desirable  calling,  and  I  should  do  according  to 
the  dictates  of  my  conscience  ^  pray  to  and  obey  the  will  of 
the  Lord.  1  left  him  and  went  home,  deeply  exercised  on 
the  subject,  revolving  and  re-revolving  the  matter  in  my 
mind,  but  could  not  at  any  time  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
1  could  become  qualified  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a  faithful 
preacher ;  no  doubt,  lacking  faith  in  Him  who  is  the  head  of 
the  Church,  with  whom  all  things  are  possible,  and  who 
could  have  been  a  mouth  to  me  as  he  was  to  Moses.  I 
have  mentioned  already  that  I  was  of  a  sedate  and  retired 
disposition,  and  therefore,  as  may  be  expected,  of  few  words, 
or  one  who  tells  things  briefly  and  not  fond  of  a  multitude  of 
words  without  meaning ;  this  might  have  been  in  my  favor^ 
as  appropriate  to  a  minister ;  as  an  approach  even  to  Christ 
himself;  but  the  devil  made  it  a  great  stumbling-block,  to- 
gether with  other  things  of  more  or  less  consequence ;  and 
I  remained  undecided  whether  the  blessed  Lord  had  really 
called  me  or  not,  and  began  to  think  of  some  other  occupa- 
tion, consulted  with  some  of  my  relations,  and  concluded  to 
stud)'  the  art  of  printing.  I  went  myself  to  Harrisburg  and 
made  an  engagement  with  Mr.  Wyeth,  who  agreed  to  take 
me  on  trial  for  a  few  months  to  see  whether  I  liked  the 
business,  &c.;  if  so,  I  was  to  serve  to  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
I,  therefore,  in  the  beginning  of  the  winter  of  1822-3,  began 
my  career  with  him,  and  after  a  short  time  was  articled  to 
stay  until  I  was  of  age.  The  first  day  it  was  late  when  I  got 
there,  but  I  learned  the  cases  and  composed  nearly  half  a 
column  of  matter,  long  primer,  for  the  paper ;  thus  1  pro- 
gressed rapidly  in  the  profession — and  he  used  to  say  I  vs'as 
a  very  good  boy,  and  when  my  father  wanted  to  purchase 
a  bible  for  me  he  gave  me  one  as  a  present — he  hid  a  large 
book-store  in  connection  with  the  printing  establishment. — 


XIV  PREFACE. 

Here  was  a  young  man  who  had  but  about  a  year  to  serve, 
belonging  to  the  Presbyterian  church  ;  he  attended  to  the 
reading  of  his  bible,  and  prayed  thrice  or  oftener  daily,  with 
other  spiritual  exercises,  such  as  reading  the  bible,  medita- 
tions and  singing,  &c.;  went  to  church  regularly  twice  or 
thrice  on  Sundays,  and  occasionally  at  night  during  the 
w^eek.  His  name  was  Richard  Cole;  by  his  example  and 
conversation  I  was  much  edified  and  benefited,  and  took 
likewise  to  prayer  thrice  a  day  on  the  loft,  where  he  used  to 
retire  to.  I  read  the  bible  with  more  attention  and  profit 
than  I  had  for  some  time  before;  1  also  attended  church  and 
prayer  meetings  regularly,  and  made  more  progress  in  the 
divine  life.  I  now  again  took  the  sacrament  once  or  twice, 
and  had  some  relreshings  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord ; 
for  a  while  this  new  mode  of  lifo  continued,  but  it  gradually 
wore  off  again,  and  from  my  having  been  a  strict  observer 
of  the  Sabbat-li,  I  became  a  Sabbath-breaker  ;  and  for  money 
would  work  all  Sunday  until  night  on  the  bills  of  the  Senate, 
which  Mr.  VVyeth  had  engaged  to  print.  O,  that  the  Legis- 
lature would  put  a  stop  to  having  so  much  of  their  printing 
executed  on  the  hallowed  day  of  the  Lord!  They  must  cer- 
tainly be  aware  that  a  great  amount  of  work  is  done,  and 
therefore,  many  hands  employed  on  the  Sabbath,  who 
might,  and  surely  ought  to  be  more  usefully  engaged,  even 
in  the  salvation  of  their  immortal  souls,  and  worshipping 
and  honoring  the  Lord  of  the  Sabbath.  "  Thoy  that  honor 
me  1  will  honor,  but  they  that  despise  me  shall  be  lightly 
esteemed,"  says  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  There  was  no  excuse 
for  me,  as  I  had  my  free  will ;  only  being  enticed,  I  pre- 
sume, by  the  devil,  and  not  sufficiently  confirmed  and  watch- 
ful unto  Godliness,  1  consented  for  filthy  lucre's  sake,  but  to 
my  shame  and  sorrow  whenever  I  think  of  it,  as  my  bad 
example  induced  Mr.  Cole  also  to  take  up  his  composing 
stick  and  desecrate  the  sanctified  day  of  rest.  O,  how 
watchful  young  christians  ought  to  be,  lest  the  adversary 
gains  some  advantage  over  themj  and  although  they  may 


PREFACE.  XV 

repent  and  be  forgiven  afterwards,  yet  will  cause  them,  at 
times,  sorrowful  moments  hours  and  days,  all  their  lives. 

The  summer  following  the  beginning  of  my  apprentice- 
ship, the  holy  L^ord  laid  his  hand  upon  me  and  brought  me 
to  the  gates  of  death  ;  "  whom  the  Lord  loveth,  he  chasten- 
eth/'  I  was  taken  by  a  fever  and  lay  about  four  weeks  ; 
it  set  in  with  violence  at  the  Ftart,  but  not  without  a  pros- 
pect of  success  to  the  attending  physician,  but  towards  the 
four  weeks  he  thought  it  might  cause  me  to  sink  under  it  and 
go  the  way  of  all  flesh.  All  this  while  I  was  in  a  terrible  state 
of  mind  ;  there  was  no  peace  for  my  poor  miserable  soul  ; 
Heaven  seemed  to  be  as  brass,  at  least  I  could  not  now  real- 
ize its  joys  and  happiness  through  a  crucified  Saviour,  which 
surpass  everything  here  below,  and  consequently  I  was  not 
willing  to  launch  forth; my  soul  clave  to  the  earth  and  I  want- 
ed to  live  and  enjoy  the  life  of  this  world,  and  was,  therefore, 
in  a  dreadful  way.  O,  to  be  always  prepared  for  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  body,  to  make  a  happy  exit  and  ascend  triumphant- 
ly to  the  realms  of  glory,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  I 
made  many  a  good  resolution  and  vowed  to  live  a  holier  life 
should  it  please  the  good  Lord  in  mercy  to  spare  me,  and 
others  also  lelt  concerned,  and  held  prayer  meetings  in  the 
house,  and  sent  for  the  minister  of  the  church  to  which  I  be- 
longed ;  he  kindly  attended  several  times  and  prayed  for  me. 
The  blessed  Lord  was  pleased  to  raise  me  up  agairj  at  about 
the  end  of  four  weeks,  so  that  I  could  accompany  my  father 
home  3  miles  in  a  gig ;  where  1  continued  in  a  weak  state,  just 
able  to  walk  about  the  house,  for  nearly  six  weeks  longer, 
when  1  felt  sufficiently  recovered,  blessed  be  God,  to  enter  on 
my  engagement  again.  The  scene  is  also  described  in  the 
poem  alluded  to,  thus : 

"  And  when  this  frame  press'd   with  sickness, 

Sore  disease  and  deep  distress  ; 

The  groan  of  anguish  thou  did'st  hear, 

And  lend'st  thyself  a  willing  ear ; 

To  defeat  the  grave  of  its  prey, 

Did'st  thy  Almighty  power  display  , 

To  health  again  for  to  restore, 

That  I  might  know  thee  more  and  more." 


XVI  PREFACE. 

I  now  enjoyed  pretty  good  health  as  long  as  I  stayed  with 
IVlr.  Wyeth,  vviiich  was  until  within  six  months  of  the  end  of 
my  contract.  As  he  had  but  httle  work  to  do  that  summer, 
and  hands  sufficient,  I  compromised  and  paid  him  for  the 
unexpired  term.  A  few  weeks  after  I  became  a  partner 
in  one  of  the  first  Jackson  papers  in  the  State,  printed  at 
Reading,  where  1  was  concerned  about  six  months,  then 
sold  my  interest,  and  visited  Philadelphia  and  New  York, 
where  T  worked  some  weeks  ;  after  which  1  returned  to  Har- 
risburg,  where,  and  at  Lancaster,  York  and  Liverpool,  and 
in  divers  visits  to  the  different  cities,  my  time  was  consumed 
until  I  left  for  Europe  in  1833.  The  greatest  part  of  the 
time  1  passed  at  Harrisburg,  where  1  had  much  success  in 
business.  Previous  to  this  i  studied  medicine  for  about  six 
months  at  Liverpool,  with  an  eminent  physician,  who  of- 
ten said  that  I  would  make  a  good  physician ;  but  the 
practical  part  was  not  congenial  to  my  feelings,  and  there- 
fore I  left  him  with  a  good  prospect  of  doing  well  in  the  bro- 
kerage business,  wherein  1  also  had  considerable  success, 
and  accumulated  a  small  fortune  in  a  few  years.  xMy  sole 
object  now  was  to  make  money — get  wealthy — until  1  began 
to  study  the  divine  art  of  painting,  in  the  spring  of  1 830.  The 
way  this  precious  gift  or  blossom  was  brought  to  bud  and 
expand,  is  this :  two  traveling  painters  of  a  little  home  repu- 
tation, from  Marietta,  came  to  town  and  took  up  their  lodg- 
ings at  the  house  where  I  boarded.  Now  1  frequently  be- 
fore had  a  hankering  to  know  how  the  effect  was  produced — 
a  desire  to  see  a  portrait  taken  ;  I  was  therefore,  persuaded  to 
have  mine  taken,  and  to  encourage  them  and  get  them  into 
business ;  the  delineations  were  made,  but  the  finish  did  not 
come  up  to  nature  ;  1  however,  paid  him,  thinking  he  might 
improve  in  time.  In  the  meantime  his  partner  arrived,  who 
also  found  it  faulty,  and  after  a  week  or  so  persuaded  me  to 
let  him  tiy  his  hand,  to  which  1  also  consented;  he  succeeded 
somewhat  better.  1  had  been  exercising  in  nr^y  office  with  a 
lead  pencil,  as  1  had  done  on  many  former  occasions.  Well? 


PREFACE.  XVII 

seeing  him  one  day  copying  from  an  engraving  a  landscape, 
1  looked  on  awhile,  then  intimated  that  I  thought  I  could 
imitate  it ;  upon  which  some  conversation  followed  in  rela- 
tion to  drawing,  &c.  He  requested  me  to  show  him  one  of 
my  pencil  sketches.  I  did  so ;  it  was  a  very  correct  copy  of  a 
print  of  Gen.  Jackson.  As  soon  as  he  saw  it,  he  said  1 
would  make  a  painter,  and  advised  me  to  study  the  art.  1 
agreed  with  him  for  fifty  dollars,  to  give  me  some  insight 
in  the  mixing  and  use  of  colors,  wiiich  he  did  as  per  his  abil- 
ities, as  he  was  merely  medium  in  the  profession.  During 
the  two  weeks  he  remained  from  this  time,  I  was  chiefly  in 
his  room,  and  copied  a  few  portraits  that  he  had  painted  from 
nature,  and  also  one  from  nature,  a  lady,  which  was  a  toler- 
able likeness.  I  now  felt  enraptured  with  this  pleasing 
study,  and  purchased  very  expensive  works  treating  on  this 
accomplished  art,  for  one  of  which, in  two  vols.  1  paid  g28r, 
another  one  vol.  gl1,50;  another  one  vol.  $6,50,  &c.  &c., 
and  in  the  purchase  of  engravings  I  spent  a  considerable  sum, 
being  determined  to  excel  in  this  exalted  profession ;  partic- 
ularly when  the  painter,  Raphael-like,  chooses  the  most 
sublime  subjects,  such  as  abound  in  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
taments. 1  therefore  visited  Philadelphia,  New  York,  BaN 
timore  and  Washington  at  different  times,  to  examine  the 
best  pictures  from  the  Italian  Masters  to  be  seen  in  this  coun- 
try ;  and  also  those  of  West,  and  other  modern  artists. — 
Thus  I  imbibed  new  views  and  principles,  and  my  genius 
expanded  more  and  more.  1  was  now  better  able  to  proceed 
with  the  vast  design  of  Christ  Preaching  and  Healing  Dis- 
eases; which]  began  the  fall  following  1  first  used  paint,  and 
was  my  fifteenth  production;  the  preceding  ones  being  only 
single  portraits,  small  things.  I  made  a  tolerable  finish  ot  it 
and  had  it  exhibited  in  Philadelphia  the  succeeding  summer; 
it  was  favorably  noticed  in  some  of  the  papers,  as  "  forcibly 
illustrating  the  passages  from  which  it  was  designed ;  that 
many  of  the  heads  were  finely  executed,  and  that  it  indicated 

2 


XVIII  PREFACEo 

an  indubitable  and  high  order  of  genius,"  &c.  This  pro- 
duction was  burned  in  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Harrisburg, 
in  October,  1838,  when  that  building  was  consumed.  I  am 
sorry  for  it ;  it  was  my  first  production  in  the  historic  de- 
partment, and  had  caused  me  a  great  deal  of  meditation  and 
study,  but  not  in  vain;  although  the  painting  is  no  more,  it 
caused  my  soul  to  be  refreshed,  to  be  nearer  Christ  than  be- 
lore,  while  engaged  on  it ;  and  it  afforded  me  some  comfort 
to  know  that  others  who  called  to  see  it  were  likewise  more 
or  less  affected,  particularly  an  old  lady,  who  said,  while  tears 
trickled  down  her  cheeks,  that  from  all  the  sermons  she  ever 
heard,  she  was  not  made  so  sensible,  or  impressed  so  forcibly 
with  the  divine  goodness  of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  and  that 
she  often  read  and  heard  of  his  meritorious  acts  of  mercy, 
but  now  she  saw  them.  She  was  really  deeply  affected, 
and  T  hope  that  it  was  as  seed  sown  upon  good  ground  and 
brought  forth  perfect  love  to  our  "  Beloved^''^  whose  serene, 
divine,  and  heavenly  appearance  she  so  much  admired;  with 
his  acts  of  benevolence  to  the  blind,  the  lame,  the  deaf,  the 
dumb,  and  to  the  possessed  of  devils,  in  restoring  ther^i  to 
their  right  mind.  It  was  a  complex  and  great  achievement, 
not,  however,  handled  and  finished  as  I  could  now,  had  I 
the  same  design  under  way.  L  executed  a  small  one  from 
recollection  of  the  same  subject,  with  some  variations  for  the 
better  ;  less  in  figures,  however,  by  fifteen  or  twenty.  On 
the  large  one  were  upwards  of  a  hundred,  on  this  not  a  hun- 
dred. After  this  I  designed  another  at  Harrisburg,  subject 
"the  head  of  John  the  Baptist,"  containing  six  or  seven 
figures,  size  of  life^  length  below  the  knees,  besides  the  head 
of  John,  which  one  of  the  executioners  is  handing  in  a 
charger  to  the  damsel.  1  afterwards  finished  it  in  London, 
and  it  was  exhibited  in  the  Royal  exhibition.  Pall  Mall. 
The  next  design  was  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  an  enor- 
mous subject,  which  1  arranged  different  from  any  other  I 
ever  saw ;  the  canvass  is  14  by  22  feet ;  figures  the  size  of 
life  ;  the  painting  T  could  finish  so  as  to  be  worth,  consider- 


PREFACE,  XIX 

able,  but  my  time  is  of  more  value  in  this  degenerate  age, 
when  sinners  are  indulging  in  the  most  abominable  vices, 
and  perishing  all  around.  As  that  picture  would  show  forth 
the  deeds  of  men,  and  consequently  in  these  times  they 
would  receive  praise  of  men  beyond  their  due,  as  the  God  of 
batdes  has  given  the  victory,  and  caused  this  as  yet  to  re- 
main a  separate  nation  ;  therefore  to  Him  belongs  all  the 
glory.  My  next  work  was  St.  Peter's  release  by  an  Angel, 
while  sleeping  between  two  guards ;  figures  size  of  life  ;  de- 
signed in  Philadelphia;  which  I  also  took  along  to  London. 
Another,  Ezra  the  scribe,  readmg  the  law  of  Moses  to  the 
children  of  Israel,  in  Jerusalem,  containing  a  number  of  fig- 
ures size  of  life,  but  not  v^ell  executed ;  there  is,  however, 
something  tolerable  in  the  buildings  and  perspective — with 
others  of  minor  import;  all  previous  to  going  to  Europe. 

During  these  five  or  six  years  the  gracious  Lord  used  his 
rod  frequently  upon  me,  in  love  it  was,  I  know,  thanks  to  his 
Holy  name.  One  Sabbath  morning  I  was  dressed  in  an  en- 
tire new  suit,  with  new  boots  ;  it  was  in  my  head  to  go  some 
twelve  miles  down  the  country,  which  you  all  know  was 
contrary  to  the  fourth  commandment ;  and  to  my  shame  1 
was  not  obedient  according  to  the  vows  I  had  made  while 
sick,  as  stated  already.  "  When  thou  vovvest  unto  the  Lord, 
pay  thy  vpws,  for  the  Lord  has  no  pleasure  in  fools."  I  hired 
a  horse  hitched  in  a  sulkey,  got  into  it,  and  before  I  was  prop- 
erly seated  the  horse  ran  at  a  terrible  rate  down  the  street, 
and  in  turning  the  corner  of  the  square,  the  sulkey  upset  and 
threw  me  against  the  curb  stone  ;  the  horse  continued  run- 
ning with  the  vehicle  upside-down.  I  got  up  and  would 
have  been  unhurt,  had  it  not  been  that  the  heel  or  offset  of 
my  boot  caught  someway  or  other,  which  1  never  could  com- 
prehend, and  twisted  my  knee,  not  quite  out  of  joint,  but 
disarranged  it  so  as  to  cause  me  to  be  confined  to  ,  bed  for 
two  weeks,  and  afterwards  to  go  on  a  crutch  for  a  few  weeks . 
longer.  I  felt  the  effects  of  it  for  some  months.  Thus  the 
devil  stung  my  heel,  as  Sabbath-breaking  and  all  wickedness-. 


XX  PREFACE. 

is  from  him  ;  but  through  God  1  am  bruising  his  head  noW. 
In  the  fall  of  1830,  while  engaged  on  the  large  painting  of 
"  Christ  Healing  Diseases,"  1  was  taken  by  the  small  pox, 
and  confined  to  bed,  where  1  lay  very  sick  for  some  weeks ; 
during  which  time  I  had  much  joy  meditating  on  the  love  of 
Christ,  which  the  above  subject  revived  to  my  mind.  I 
thought  1  once  saw  the  blessed  Saviour  standing  at  the  head 
of  the  bed,  and  also  that  I  would  die  in  peace  ;  but  it  pleased 
the  blessed  physician  and  head  of  the  church  to  restore  me 
to  health ;  having  still  greater  work  under  his  divine  Provi- 
dence for  me  to  do.  For  change  of  air  1  went  to  Lancaster 
and  Columbia;  between  these  places  the  linch  pin  came 
out,  one  of  the  wheels  flew  off,  and  the  stage  went  down; 
in  aiding  to  raise  it  up  to  replace  the  wheel,  being  weak,  1 
sprained  or  rather  prolongated  the  muscles  of  my  right  shoul- 
der, which  i  deemed  too  trifling  to  notice  at  the  time ;  but 
in  returnirg  from  Columbia  to  Lancaster  the  same  night,  the 
axle-tree  broke  down,  and  we  had  to  take  to  a  waggon,  the 
jolting  of  which  was  terrible,  and  reclining  on  the  elbow  of 
my  right  arm,  not  aware  of  the  injury  I  had  received  before, 
by  the  time  we  arrived  at  Lancaster,  was  very  bad,  so 
that  the  bone  stood  nearly  straight  out.  I  then  returned 
to  Harrisburg  and  had  to  bandage  all  winter,  and  was  pre- 
vented from  studying  my  picture. 

As  1  had  it  in  contemplation  for  some  years,  the  time  at 
last  arrived  for  my  departure  to  Europe.  1  therefore  left 
Philadelphia  the  latter  part  of  July,  18S3,  for  New  York, 
where  I  embarked  on  the  1st  of  August  for  Liverpool;  trust- 
ing that  my  Heavenly  Father,  who  had  until  then  supported 
and  delivered  me,  would  still  be  with  me,  and  b}'  the  work- 
ings of  his  Providence,  would  enable  me  to  land  safely  at  the 
latter  place;  notwithstanding  the  insinuation  of  my  oldest 
brother,  sometime  previous,  "  that  1  would  never  get  there  ;'' 
to  whom  I  replied,  "  that  if  it  was  God's  will  1  should.  "  I 
merely  relate  this  to  show  that  although  not  unblameable 
and  holy  enough,  1  still  had  some   christian  principle   and 


PREFACE.  XXI 

Ikith  in  my  God  and  Saviour;  '* cast  all  your  care  upon  the 
Lord  for  he  oareth  for  you;""  thus,  as  before,  He  was  with 
me  still.  "  If  1  take  the  wings  of  the  morning  and  fly  to  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  sea.  Thou  art  there,  thy  rod  and  thy 
staff  they  comfort  me."  At  times  we  were  visited  by  gales 
of  wind,  when  the  sea  would  roar,  lash  the  vessel's  side,  leap 
on  board,  and  together  with  the  wind  would  cause  the  ship 
to  groan,  masts  creak,  spars  fly,  and  the  sails  rend  and  flap 
in  the  storm,  and  cause  confusion  and  consternation  among 
the  passengers  and  crew.  At  such  times  1  would  retire,  cast 
myself  upon  my  knees  before  the  throne  of  Him  whom 
the  winds  and  the  waves  obey,  and  at  whose  words,  "  Peace, 
be  still,"  there  follows  a  great  calm.  1  implored  my  Fath- 
er's protection,  and  if  he  permitted  my  body  to  descend  into 
the  deep,  to  cause  my  soul  to  ascend  through  Jesus  to  his 
own  right  hand  ;  and  1  felt  his  presence  near,  and  great  com- 
fort, joy  and  peace,  and  a  great  calm  within  my  soul,  not- 
withstanding the  raging  of  the  elements  without.  My  Iwpes 
and  expectations  were  reahzed,  after  the  exercise  of  much 
patience,  during  a  voyage  of  42  days,  by  stepping,  through 
the  goodness  of  God,  on  Brittania's  luxuriant  shore.  1  spent 
a  few  days  at  Liverpool,  then  took  stage  for  London,  through 
Birmingham  and  the  most  fertile  part  of  the  country.  In 
London,  that  great  metropolis^  I  located  myself  in  the  Wes- 
tern part,  where  the  streets  are  broad,  cleanliness  observed, 
and  where  there  are  parks  and  promenades,  conducing  to  the 
health  of  the  inhabitants.  Here  1  pursued  the  study  of  my 
profession  and  succeeded  very  well,  as  I  have  stated  al- 
ready. 1  had  access  to  some  of  the  best  collections  of  paint- 
ings belonging  to  this  great  nation,  and  thereby  improved 
myself,  and  made  strides  in  this  divine  art  towards  perfec- 
tion accordingly.  Yet  one  thing  1  regret  exceedingly  when- 
ever 1  think  thereon,  that  is,  of  not  having  lived  near  enough 
to  God,  asl  sho^ild  have  done  for  his  goodness  to  me;  and  as 
I  might  have  done,  through  a  crucified  Redeemer,  and  privi- 
leged to  do.     Oh  !  the    abuse  men  make  of  this  exalted 


XXII  PREFAX::«E. 

privilege,  and  therefore  remain  strangers  to  all  the  blessings 
and  sweets  thereof.  I  was  not  prayerful  enough,  although  1 
prayed  night  and  morning ;  neither  watchful  enough  to  keep 
out  of  my  heart,  and  conquer  at  all  times  the  enemy  of  my 
soul,  through  the  Captain  of  our  Salvation,  which  is  the  duty 
enjoined  upon  every  christian.  My  affections  were  there- 
fore, unhallowed  and  misplaced.  I  did  not  love  God  with 
all  my  heart,  and  by  consequence  my  eye  was  not  single  to 
his  glory.  I  was  as  a  stray  sheep  wandering  from  the  fold 
of  Jesus,  whose  compassionate  bowels  yearned  for  my  return; 
and  somehow  or  other  1  became  deprived  of  my  personal 
liberty,  if  not  by  the  order,  by  the  permission  of  my  Heavenly 
Father,  "  whom  he  loveth  he  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth 
every  one  that  he  receiveth  ;''  and  who  graciously  overruled 
all  for  my  benefit  and  his  glory.  As  1  had  committed  no 
crime  against  the  law  of  the  land,  1  did  not  suffer  as  an  evil 
doer,  but  innocently.  1  therefore  warn  all  to  clear  their  skirts, 
ere  it  be  too  late,  who  made  themselves  guilty  of  my  blood, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  aiding  and  abetting  in  ihe 
dark,  mysterious,  and  hellish  plot,  which  1  never  could  com- 
prehend, but  which  shall  be  made  manifest  on  the  Judgment 
day,  when  every  work  shall  be  rewarded  by  the  Eternal 
Judge,  my  Father.  1  may,  and  do  forgive  them,  but  without 
repentance  my  Father  will  not  forgive  them.  "  It  needs  be 
that  offences  come,  but  woe  to  him  from  whom  they  do  come; 
it  were  bettc  that  he  had  a  millstone  about  his  neck  and  were 
cast  into  the  depths  of  the  sea  ;"  and  this  also  applies  to 
those  who  now  persecute  me.  Let  all,  therefore,  speedily 
repent  lest  they  find  themselves  in  a  place  of  torment  surpas- 
sing all  that  men  and  devils  ever  invented,  or  can  possibly 
invent;  even  in  the  lake  that  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone, 
where  there  shall  be  weeping  and  wa.iling  and  gnashing  of 
teeth  forever. 

With  the  inspired  writer,  I  thank  my  God  that  I  ever 
have  been  afflicted;  it  learned  me  to  know  the  foolishness  of 
loving  the  world  and  the  vain  things  thereof,  and  to  be  rooted 


PREFACE.  xxul 

and  grounded  through  love  in  tlie  tree  of  life  ;  to  deny  the 
devil  and  all  his  filthiness,  and  love  God  with  all  the  heart. 
This  perfect  blessing  of  salvation  1  expeiienced  shortly  after 
I  v^^as  imprisoned,  and  the  great  God  supported  me  miracu- 
lously during  my  confinement,  and  gave  me,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  indubitable  assurance 
of  being  through  Christ  born  again,  adopted  a  son  and  an 
heir  of  Glory,  joint  heir  v^'ith  the  blessed  Jesus  ;  and  of 
having  my  sins  washed  away  by  his  precious  blood,  which 
cleanses  from  all  sins,  and  my  name  written  in  the  Lamb's 
book  of  life,  enabled  to  cry  Abba,  Abba,  Father  ;  which 
caused  my  heart  to  leap  for  joy,  and  1  was  all  life,  light, 
love,  joy,  peace  and  happiness  in  Jehovah,  my  God  and 
Saviour.  And  1  also  trust  that  my  faith,  confidence  and 
patience  under  my  sufferings,  and  perfect  love  to  Him  who 
is  essentially  love;  which  casteth  out  all  fear,  may  have 
worked  much  good  to  my  neighbors;  my  enemies  and  per- 
secutors; it  would  afford  me  much  joy  were  I  aware  that 
it  was  so ;  I  shall  know,  however,  for  the  day  of  the  Lord 
will  reveal  it.  1  was,  at  times,  greatly  harrassed  by  the 
devil,  and  deprived  of  bodily  comfort  by  his  agents,  his 
children ;  but  thanks  be  to  God,  his  word  was  not  bound, 
but  had  free  course  to  rejoice  my  heart  and  glorify  him  ;  to 
impart  that  "  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding,  which 
the  w^orld  cannot  give  or  take  away,  and  which  shall  endure 
and  increase  evermore,  eternal  in  the  heavens  ;"  thus  1  was 
happy  in  God,  although  I  had  tribulation  in  the  world.— 
"  These  things  1  have  spoken  unto  you,  that  in  me,"  saith 
the  blessed  Christ,  "  ye  might  have  peace.  In  the  world  ye 
shall  have  tribulation,  but  be  of  good  cheer ;  I  have  over- 
come the  world."  At  times,  thank  the  Lord,  I  had  more 
kindness  shown  me,  when  I  would  read  and  write  hymns,  of 
which  I  have  upwards  of  200  yet  unpublished.  1  also  com- 
posed the  latter  part  of  the  poem  of  the  '^Messiah^^''  that  is, 
from  the  77th  verse,  "  Lo  !  the  Lord,  the  Lord  of  Glory,"  &a 


XXIV  PREFACE. 

In  this  way  it  wrought  for  my  good,  my  Father's  glory,  arid 
if  not  for  the  welfare  of  men's  souls,  it  will  be  their  own 
fault — be  their  blood  upon  them ;  be  my  hands  clean. 

In  all  these  complex  trials  the  blessed  Lord  was  with  me. 
1  grew  in  the  divine  and  holy  life  ;  Christ  dwelled  in  me  the 
hope  of  glory,  and  I  lived  and  moved  in  him  ;  in  short,  I  was 
emphatically  the  temple  of  the  mystic  Trinity — Father,  Son 
and  Holy  Spirit,  according  to  St.  John,  Hth  chapter. 

Two  years  were  fully  passed  in  confinement,  as  were 
also  Vv'ith  Joseph  and  St.  Paul — my  blessed  Father  arose  in 
his  majesty  to  confound  all  hell  and  darkness  ;  the  devil  and 
all  his  legions;  spiritual  and  in  the  flesh,  and  with  his  Om- 
nipotent Arm  achieved  my  deliverance,  and  I  came  forth 
from  the  furnace  as  gold  seven  times  refined.  Glory  be  to 
his  great  name,  who  is  perfect  in  glory  and  holiness,  and 
saith,  "  when  thou  cometh  into  trouble,  call  upon  me  and  I 
will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorify  me,"  which  I  know 
I  have  done,  am  doing,  and  desire  to  do  to  the  end,  so  that, 
through  my  blessed  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  I  may  also  reign 
with  Him  in  all  joy,  glory,  happiness,  felicity  and  bliss,  for 
ever  and  ever. 

Incomprehensible  Deity,  thou  art  so  highly  exalted  above 
puny  men,  thy  throne  in  the  heavens  is  so  far  above  the 
earth,  thy  footstool,  that  thy  ways  are  "altogether  past 
finding  out ;  but  this  we  know,  that  thy  promises  are  all  yea 
and  amen  to  the  believer  in  Jesus.  O  enable  me  ever  to 
adore  thy  long  suffering  mercy  to  me,  and  to  praise  and  bless 
thy  ever  blessed  and  holy  name  in  time,  and  at  thy  right 
hand  in  eternity,  through  Jesus  Christ  my  beloved  Lord  and 
Saviour.     Amen. 

Yes,  the  Lord's  ways  are  above  our  ways,  and  his  thoughts 
far,  far  above  our  thoughts;  therefore,  as  respects  my  two 
years  confinement,  it  will  be  fully  manifest  at  his  second 
coming ;  which  in  his  own  words,  "will  be  speedily."  Even 
50  come,  Lord  Jesus.    Amen. 


PREFACE.  XXV 

The  object  of  my  being  thus  lengthy  is  to  edify  my  read- 
ers, to  give  some  idea  of  the  dealing  of  my  Father  with  his 
annointed ;  to  convince  those,  particularly,  who  deny  his 
intercession  and  guardian  care  and  government  of  the  uni- 
verse ;  and  that  if  any  of  my  readers  should  ever  meet  with 
similar  trials  not  to  despair,  but  call  upon  the  same  Lord, 
who  is  Almighty  to  save  and  deliver  to  the  uttermost. 

Wonderfully  and  divinely  supported  by  my  heavenly  Fath- 
er, I  was  enabled  to  embark  from  London,  in  iVIarch,  1836, 
who  upheld  me  by  his  Arm  of  Righteousness  and  Almighty 
power,  by  grace  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. — 
Nothing  very  particular  occurred  during  the  voyage.  We 
had  some  gales  and  much  head  wind,  even  for  weeks ;  one 
morning,  after  some  weeks  of  this  untoward  weather,  and 
having  been  out  about  seven  weeks  already,  a^  1  came  on 
deck  one  of  the  passengers  entered  into  conversation  with 
me,  during  which  he  informed  me  that  the  provision  was  be- 
coming scarce  on  board,  and  if  the  wind  should  continue 
ahead,  he  knew  not  what  might  be  the  consequence.  1  re- 
flected a  moment,  then  descended  to  my  berth,  to  implore 
Him  with  whom  are  the  issues  of  life  and  death,  and  who 
holds  the  reins  of  the  winds  in  his  fist,  and  can  change  them 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  and  so  he  did  ;  for  I  was  but  a 
few  minutes  on  my  knees  praying  for  the  same,  when  I  heard 
them  tacking  about  and  putting  the  ship  in  nearly  a  direct 
course  for  our  harbor ;  when  I  came  on  deck  the  wind  was 
nearly  aft,  and  the  same  breeze  drove  us  into  New  York 
nearly  two  weeks  after.  My  Father  is  still  a  prayer  hear- 
mg  and  answering  God,  if  approached  in  uprightness;  with 
full  purpose  of  heart  to  forsake  evil  and  follow  after  that 
which  is  good  ;  know  ye  this  ye  double-minded  who  desire  to 
serve  two  masters,  your  prayer  is  an  abomination,  and  there- 
fore, not  answered,  and  ye  remain  unconverted  and  in  your 
sins.  Above  all,  God  delights  to  hear  his  saints  pray  and  to 
answer  their  prayers,  for  his  honor  dwelleth  with  them,  and 


XXVI  PREFACE. 

he  is  glorified  in  them;  therefore  let  us  pray  without  ceasing; 
in  everything  give  thanks;  bless  his  name  and  sing  his  praise; 
Hallelujah,  praise  the  Lord. 

1  expected  that  as  soon  as  I  landed  on  the  American  shore 
I  should  be  free  from  persecution;  but  alas!  I  found  it  far 
otherwise,  the  powers  of  darkness  pervading  all  classes,  and 
I  soon  found  that  the  land  was  mourning  for  the  abomination 
thereof;  and  alas!  thought  I,  for  my  country;  the  just  judg- 
ments of  the  Most  High  are  pressing  thee  sore.  In  travel- 
ing along  1  discovered  that  the  fields  were  almost  barren  as 
the  road;  my  heart  was  heavy,  mourned  within  jue,  and  groan* 
ed  with  the  earth.  I  thought  of  ?s'oah's  time,  and  of  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah,  and  other  mighty  nations,  which  prosperity, 
fulness  of  bread,  and  success  in  arms,  had  inflated  so  that 
they  becamp  lifted  up  and  went  a  whoring  after  their  own  in- 
ventions, neither  fearing  nor  acknowledging  the  sovereignty  of 
Jehovah,  nor  seeking  to  honor  him,  but  rather  by  their  filthy 
actions  to  dishonor  him,  and  that  continually;  at  last  God  to 
humble  them  brought  them  even  low  as  hell,  by  an  utter  ex- 
termination, to  wit :  the  plains  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  &c. 

When  abroad  I  would  often  think  if  1  once  got  back  to  my 
brother,  I  w^ouid  also  find  a  brother  in  spirit  and  in  truth  and 
in  the  spirit  of  Christ.  But  after  landing  I  began  to  doubt  of 
it,  and  when  I  got  there  I  found  him  contrary;  his  hand  be- 
ing against  me;  not  having  my  Lord  and  Master,  Christ's 
mark  on  his  forehead,  but  the  adversary's,  consequently  there 
was  a  great  gulph  between  us,  and  which  1  am  sorry  to  think 
remains  unto  this  day;  and  so  it  is  with  all  my  relations  and 
acquaintances,  and  strangers  among  whom  I  have  sojourned 
since;  but  yet  notwithstanding  the  Lord  may  have  some,  be- 
side myself,  whose  hands  are  free  from  the  blood  of  all  men, 
either  by  persecution  or  otherwise,  and  who  abstain  from  this 
levelling  abomination  and  wickedness,  upon  which  I  have 
enlarged  in  the  following  discourses. 

Having  lived  since  my  return  in  May,  1836,  within  four  or 


PREFACE.  xxvii 

five  miles  of  this  place,  where  I  pursued  my  studies  as  histori- 
cal painter,  and  occasionally  composing  hymns,  and  where  1 
wrote  the  first  part  of  my  poem,  the  ^^ Messiah,''''  up  to  verse 
77.  Here  I  met  with  many  trials  and  buffetings  from  Satan, 
and  persecutions  from  his  children,  but  my  God  and  Sa- 
viour, my  brother  Jesus  was  constantly  with  me,  and  through 
him  I  triumphed  over  them  all,  and  know  that  I  shall  endure 
unto  the  end  and  inherit  all  things,  and  with  the  Holy  An- 
gels and  the  redeemed  from  the  earth,  enjoy  the  Eternal 
Father  everlastingly. 

Last  March  I  came  to  this  place,  (Chambersburg,)  and 
have  met  with  consideral)le  success,  which  enabled  me  to 
publish  during  the  summer  the  "  Messiah^''^  for  the  welfare 
of  my  fellow  beings,  particularly  their  immortal  soul's  salva- 
tion ;  which  work  has  "been  welcomed  and  highly  extolled, 
by  men  of  judgment,  for  which  1  feel  thankful,  as  it  may 
draw  the  public  to  spend  a  trifle  to  possess  it,  and  the  amount 
of  good  it  may  be  the  means,  under  God,  of  doing,  will  be 
made  manifest  some  future  day  ;  in  the  meantime  Glory  be 
to  Jesus  the  King  of  Glory.  The  subject,  the  "Messiah,"  is 
the  most  elevated  and  sublime  that  could  be  sung,  and  in  my 
humble  opinion,  the  language  is  high,  holy,  and  inspired  ; 
truly  evangelical,  and  in  keeping;  harmonizing  in  every  res- 
pect to  it.  I  have  said  before  I  published,  and  am  still  of  the 
same  opinion,  that  parts  of  it  have  never  to  my  knowledge, 
been  surpassed,  if  equalled  ;  but  glory  to  whom  glory  belongs, 
and  may  his  blessing  descend  upon  the  readers  thereof  for 
the  salvation  of  their  souls. 

The  painting  of  our  blessed  Saviour's  appearance  to  his 
disciples  while  they  were  praying  in  an  upper  room,  the  doors 
being  shut  too,  when  and  where  he  convinced  unbelieving 
Thomas^  St.  John's  gospel  20th  chapter.  It  is  a  heaven- 
born  production;  a  superhuman  serenity  pervades  the  whole, 
like  the  calm  of  the  ocean  after  a  breeze,  its  tiny  waves  skip- 
ping and  rejoicing;  thus  the  terror  of  the  disciples  has  subsid- 
ed, and  placidness  taken  its  place  with  joy  and  rejoicing  in 


XXVIII  PREFACE. 

the  heart  of  every  one.  The  Saviour  is  an  admirable  figure, 
full  six  feet  high,  and  well  proportioned ;  his  countenance  is 
sweet,  divinely  benign,  and  persuasive  ;  his  eyes  are  cast  up- 
on St.  Thomas,  who  is  kneeling  before  him,  recovering  from 
his  weakness  and  confusion,  and  exclaiming  '^  My  Lord  and 
my  God."  The  light  which  emanates  from  the  Saviour's 
countenance  is  well  managed,  partly  shading  some  of  the 
hindermost  figures.  The  draperies  are  ample  and  flowing; 
ever}^  part  is  in  keeping  and  aids  to  combine  the  subject  and 
form  a  sweet  and  pleasing  effect,  such  as  to  refresh  and  edi- 
fy the  soul,  and  calm  a  ruffled  and  angry  temper  by  behold- 
ing it. 

This  subject  was  selected  during  the  few  last  months  of 
my  confinement,  and  began  on  a  convass  of  about  1 4  by  1 1 
inches,  which  I  brought  from  London  here,  and  have  now^ 
enlarged  it  to  the  size  of  life  on  a  suitable  canvass,  and  more 
to  my  satisfaction,  and  1  trust  to  the  benefit  of  mankind.  It 
must  be  seen  in  a  proper  room  and  light  to  be  fully  apprecia- 
ted. Another  began  since;  Mary  Magdalene,  Joanna,  and 
Mary  the  mother  of  James,  with  other  women,  seeking  the 
Saviour  at  the  sepulchre.  They  went  in  and  found  him  not, 
and  after  coming  out  two  Angels  stood  by  them,  informing 
them  that  he  had  risen,  &c.  St.  Luke,  24th  chapter.  Fig- 
ures, seven  women  and  two  Angels,  rather  above  the  size  of 
life;  it  remains  unfinished  as  yet.  Another  is  a  sweet  pic- 
ture of  the  Saviour,  with  Cleopas  on  one  side  and  another 
disciple  on  the  other,  progressing  towards  Emmaus;  they 
have  just  ascended  to  tiie  top  of  a  hill;  the  sun  near  sinking 
behind  the  distant  mountains,  shines  full  in  their  faces  and 
casts  long  shadows  down  the  hill  from  their  bodies,  and  from 
trees.  A  luxuriant  and  wide  extended  valley  lays  before 
them,  bounded  by  hills  on  one  side,  interspersed  by  buildings 
and  vineyards.  The  village  of  Emmaus  lies  a  little  to  the 
right,  about  a  mile  ahead;  with  towering  mountains  behind, 
and  extended  country  to  the  left  for  miles  farther;  the  fields 


PREFACE.  XXIX 

are  white  to  harvest,  reapers  are  seen  employed ;  a  plow- 
man breaking  up  the  fallow  ground ;  and  shepherds  watch- 
ing their  flocks  on  the  hill,  and  the  great  shepherd  and  bishop 
of  souls,  passes  along  with  two  of  his  flock,  ploughing  their 
hearts,  reclaiming  his  wandering  followers  to  confirm  their 
faith,  so  that  in  due  time  he  may  gather  them  into  hiS  heaven- 
ly fold.  It  must  also  be  seen  and  understood  to  be  benefi- 
cial to  the  souls  of  men.  Another  is  the  nativity,  on  a  smal 
scale,  &c.  &:,c. 

In  the  beginning  of  August  last  it  pleased  my  Heavenly 
Father  to  afflict  or  permit  me  to  be  afflicted  with  an  out- 
breaking on  either  leg;  which  prevented  my  painting  almost 
entirely  for  two  months,  during  which  time  1  wrote,  through 
the  Holy  Spirit's  assistance,  the  following  discourses,  except 
one  which  was  written  before,  and  another  since,  all  which  I 
humbly  submit  to  the  serious  and  candid  consideration  of  this 
nation  and  people,  for  their  temporal  and  eternal  well-being. 
Whether  you  will  hear  or  forbear,  I  have  endeavored  to  be 
candid  in  pointing  out  the  crimes  committed  in  the  dark: 
pervading  and  levelling  all  classes,  and  for  which  the  judg- 
ments of  the  Almighty  have  been  fell,  as  yet  slightly;  but  if 
not  repented  of,  will  end  in  the  utter  destruction  of  this  na- 
tion, and  every  soul  estranged  from  God,  for  '*  the  soul  that 
sinneth  it  shall  die;"  therefore,  repent  as  did  Ninevah,  and 
be  at  peace  v/ith  your  Maker;  otherwise,  if  you  persevere 
in  your  rebellion  you  will  find  him  an  invincible  enemy  and 
conqueror  of  all  you  can  invent  and  achieve  under  Satan,  and 
dreadful  will  be  your  eternal  state,  if  you  fall  singly  or  col- 
lectively in  the  deviPs  cause.  This  slight  affliction  may  have 
thus  been  overruled  by  divine  Providence  for  incalculable 
good  to  immortal  souls,  and  his  name  may  have  likewise 
been  glorified,  and  may  still  be  glorified  in  the  conversion  of 
sinners.  1  have  endeavored  to  cry  aloud  and  spare  not ;  to 
show  you  your  sins  and  transgressions,  and  not  suffer  sin 
by  any  means  upon  you.  I  trust  my  hands  will  thus 
be  cleared  from  the  blood  of  all  men,  and   may  God  add  hip 


XXX  PREFACE. 

blessing  upon  my  humble  endeavor,  and  in  due  time  receive 
me  into  His  glory,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  to  whom 
with  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  ever  one  God,  be  all  the 
honor  and  glory,  dominion,  majesty,  and  power,  W'ith  thanks 
and  blessings,  now,  henceforth  and  forevermore.     Amen. 

P.  S.  Since  writing  the  above,  1  had,  blessed  be  God  my 
Holy  Father  for  havmg  chastened  me,  another  severe  trial 
to  encounter  for  my  folly;  by  stooping  to  listen  to  the  degra- 
ded devil's  suggestions.  Yea,  having  descended  from  the 
high  and  exalted  place  in  Christ;  through  his  righteousness 
having  been  seated  in  high  and  heavenly  places,  from 
which,  by  giving  heed  to  Satan,  I  fell,  and  departed  partially 
from  God  my  Saviour,  who  is  over  all  blessed  forevermore, 
and  worthy  to  be  honored,  loved,  and  adored,  with  heart, 
mind,  soul,  spirit  and  strength,  and  to  be  worshipped  in  the 
beauties  of  holiness  through  Jesus  Christ  our  J  ^ord;  whom 
the  blessed  God  has  exalted  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  and 
likev^ise  a  judge  over  the  devil  and  his  children. 

I  was  through  the  wiles  of  Satan,  deceived  and  brought 
to  grieve  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Comforter,  and  offend  my 
Heavenly  F'ather,  Saviour,  and  Friend,  and  his  rod  for  the 
wicked,  which  shall  not  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  righteous,  unless 
they  commit  iniquity,  was  laid  upon  me,  and  the  Good  Lord 
withdrew  his  countenance  from  me  a  little  while  and  per- 
mitted Satan  to  sift  me  as  wheat,  and  I  had  much  contention 
and  distress  of  soul  for  about  four  weeks.  During  this  period 
I  was  at  times  wonderfully  and  mysteriously  supported  by 
Jehovah,  at  other  times  suffered  to  despond  and  to  give  heed 
to  the  doctrine  of  devils,  "that  there  is  no  God."  At  the 
end  of  this  time,  however,  the  blessed  Lord  delivered  me  ful- 
ly, so  far  as  to  be  above  all  doubts  as  to  His  existence,  omnis- 
cience, and  omnipotence,  &:c.  "Out  of  six  troubles  1  will 
deliver  thee  and  in  the  seventh  not  forsake  thee  ;"  saith  my 
Holy  Father;  which  promise  has  been  abundantly  verified; 
all  thanks  and  blessings  be  to   him,  for  having  brought  me 


PREFACE.  XXXI 

mysteriousjy  out  of  this  furnace  also,  more  refined  and  puri- 
fied than  from  all  his  former  deliverences.  Yet  Satan  has 
power  still  to  buffet  me,  as  all  shall  suffer  persecution  who 
will  live  Godly  in  Christ  Jesus,  for  his  holy  name's  sake,  and 
for  the  testimony  of  his  word;  though  heaven  and  earth  be 
destroyed,  his  word  shall  endure. 

If  I  had  the  tongue  of  Angels  1  could  not  sufficiently  praise 
my  blessed  and  beloved  P'ather  for  having  again  honored 
me  by  taking  me  into  his  perfect  favor,  through  Christ  to  be 
more  and  more  in  Him  in  one  allied  and  more  firmly  estab- 
lished in  holy  love  divine  on  the  rock  of  ages.  Being  now 
altogether  reconciled  to  God,  and  as  Moses  able  to  esteem 
the  reproach  of  Christ  ol  greater  riches  than  the  treas- 
ures, not  only  of  a  part,  but  the  whole  world;  counting  all 
things  duofr,  that  1  may  win  Christ,  who  is  now  more  than 
ever  in  me  the  hope  of  glory.  In  him,  thanks  to  Almig-hty 
God,  I  live,  and  move,  and  have  my  being;  and  through 
whom  Jehovah  has  again  raised  up  my  head;  and  blessed  be 
his  holy  name,  1  liave  now  more  faith  and  confidence  in 
Christ  than  I  had  before.  He  is  truly  my  wisdom,  righte- 
ousness, sanctification  and  redemption;  my  all  in  all;  wealth 
in  poverty;  health  in  sickness;  life  in  death;  and  shall  be  my 
joy  and  rejoicing  in  heaven  forevermore.  Therefore  I  desire 
to  know  nothing  but  Christ  and  him  crucified,  duriug  my 
pilgrimage  here  below. 

The  glorious  Jehovah  has  thus  again  through  me,  verified 
his  words,  "I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee;"  and 
also  counfounded  the  devil  and  his  filthy  legions  in  the  air; 
and  those  co-working  with  them  in  high  places;  the  workers 
of  the  spiritual  wickedness  of  this  world,  of  hell  and  dark- 
ness, mysteriously  showing  forth  his  power;  for  God  has  de- 
signs, and  for  their  accomplishment  can  bring  all  things  into 
subjection,  and  to  subserve  thereunto;  which  may  now  be 
veiled  in  myster3%  but  when  all  things  are  revealed  shall  be 
abundantly  manifest.     INqw  vye  know  only  in  part,  but  then 


XXXII  PREFACE. 

we  shall  know  more  perfectly  when  this  which  is  in  part 
shall  be  done  away. 

As  the  blessed  Saviour's  words  to  his  disciples,  so  to  me-. 
'*  Ye  have  not  chosen  me^  but  I  have  chosen  you,  and  or- 
dained you,  that  ye  should  go  and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that 
your  fruit  should  remain,  and  that  none  shall  take  you  out  of 
my  hands."  "iVly  sheep  hear  my  voice  and  1  am  known  of 
them,  and  I  know  them,  and  give  unto  them  eternal  hfe." — 
"  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  he  that  believeth  in  me 
though  he  were  dead  yet  shall  he  live,  and  he  that  liveth  and 
believeth  in  me  shall  never  die."  These  are  sweet,  precious 
and  glorious  to  all  true  christians,  and  now  particularly  to 
me  in  these  degenerate  limes.  May  the  blessed  Jehovah  my 
Holy  Father  support  me  under  all  trials,  deliver  and  finally 
bring  me  into  his  everlasting  kingdom  of  glory,  through  Jesus 
Christ  my  beloved  Saviour,  that  I  may  have  my  portion  with 
the  Holy  Angels  and  all  the  redeemed  from  the  earth,  in  all 
joy,  glory,  happiness,  felicity  and  bliss,  forevermore.  And 
unto  the  Triune  Father,  be  all  honor,  dominion,  majesty  and 
power,  with  thanks  and  blessings,  now,  henceforth  and  for- 
evermore.    Amen  and  Amen. 

JOHN  LANDIS. 


l>I<!^€Ol]R8£  I. 

ON  FAITH. 

Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  he  in  the  faith ;  i^rom  your 
ownselves.  Know  ye  not  your  ownselves,  how  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  in  you  except  ye  be  reprobates  ? 

2<i.  Corinthians,  1 3th  Chap,  5th  verse. 
The  words  of  our  text  were  indited  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
through  St.  Paul,  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  Apostles,  who  was 
regenerated  by  the  same  blessed  spirit  in  so  wonderful  and 
miraculous  a  manner  as  recorded  in  the  26th  chapter  of  the 
Acts,  The  Lord  J(^sus  appearing  to  him  in  such  resplendent 
glory  as  to  ved  the  Sun  in  his  meridian  splendour; ordainmg 
him  a  minister  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  people,  and  par- 
ticularly to  the  Gentiles  ;  and  was  thus,  as  he  expresses  him- 
self, born  out  of  due  time;  who  suffered  such  great  peril  and 
hardship  for  Christ  and  the  gospePs  sake,  and  whose  faith 
was  frequently  tried  to  the  uttermost,  but  was  as  often  de- 
livered by  our  gracious  Lord,  from  all  his  troubles,  who  long 
since  received  him  into  mansions  of  bliss.  1  shall  take  oc- 
casion to  refer  to  his  writings  as  we  proceed  in  our  discourse* 
Let  us,  therefore,  consider  the  subject  under  the  three  follow- 
ing heads : 

\st.  Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith, 
^nd.  Prove  your  ownselves,  and 

3d.  Know  ye  not  your  ownselves,  how  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in 
you  except  ye  be  reprobates  ? 

First  then,  it  has  become  the  imperative  duty  of  every  in- 
dividual, as  soon  as  he  may  be  accounted  responsible  to  the 
Great  Father  of  the  human  family,  for  every  thought,  word, 
and  deed,  to  pry  into  the  inmost  recesses  of  his  heart,  and  seek 
to  discover  the  rubbish  there  concealed,  wrapt  in  unbelief, 

3 


2  ON    FAITH. 

generating  sinful  thoughts,  (which  in  too  many  has  been  ne- 
glected, as  they  have  been  wilfully  disobedient  to  the  com- 
mand to  love  God  with  all  the  heart, )which  ripen  to  maturity, 
explode,  and  inevitable  dest^^uction  is  too  often  the  conse- 
quence; they  are  plunged  into  misery,  hurried  along  by  their 
worldly  passions,  on  the  broad  road  leading  to  the  chambers 
of  eternal  death;  their  immortal  souls  plunged  into  the  un- 
fathomable abyss  of  outer  darkness,  the  lake  of  fire  and  brim- 
stone, where  there  shall  be  weepmg,  and  wailing,  and  gnash- 
ing of.  teeth.  To  avoid,  therefore,  this  awful  end,  examine 
yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith;  for. by  grace  are  ye 
saved  through  faith  and  not  of  works, or  yourselves;  it  is  the 
gift  of  God  obtained  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Faith  comes  by  hearing  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God. — 
We  therefore,  preach  the  glorious  life-giving  gospel  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  to  turn  you  from  the  error  of 
your  ways  to  the  living  God.  Christ  who  was  made  a  curse 
for  us;  a  sin  offering  was  veiled  under  types  and  ordinances  in 
the  Jewish  dispensation,  proclaimed  by  the  ancient  prophets, 
those  holy  men  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost;  the 
assurance  of  salvation  was  even  made  immediately  after  the 
fall,  when  God  said  the  se3ed  of  the  woman  shall  bruise  the 
serpent's  head;  alluding  to  the  Messiah.  The  patriarch  Abra- 
ham heard  and  believed,  and  it  was  accounted  to  him  for 
righteousness.  The  illustrious  Saviour,  obscured  and  veiled  in 
mystery,  under  the  title  of  the  "Branch,"  "Plant  of  Renown," 
"  The  Lord  our  Righteousness,"  the  prophet  Isaiah  styles, 
and  very  justly  too,  "  The  Wonderful  Counsellor,  the  iVJigh- 
ty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace."  In 
due  time  the  Virgin  Mary  received  a  visit  from  Gabriel,  an 
Angel  of  God,  exclaiming,  "  Hail,  thou  that  art  highly  favor- 
ed, the  Lord  is  with  thee,  blessed  art  thou  among  women;" 
perceiving  her  trouble  of  mind,  he  said  unto  her,  "  Fear  not 
Mary,  for  thou  hast  found  favor  with  God,"  and  that  the 
power  of  the  Highest  should  overshadow  her,  and  telling  her 
to  name  the  child  Jesus,  and  that  he  would  be  great,  and 


ON  FAITH.  3 

would  be  called  the  son  of  the  Highest;  and  that  the  Lord 
God  would  give  unto  him  the  throne  of  his  father  David. — 
As  it  was  predicted,  in  due  time  the  Glorious,  Bright,  and 
Morning  Star  arose  at  Bethlehem,  Judea,  as  it  is  written, 
"Thou   Bethlehem,    though   least  among  the  thousands  of 
Judah,  behold  mighty  works  show  themselves  forth  in  thee." 
Here  then  was  the  object  of  the  christian's  faith  presented  to 
sight.     His  birth  having  been  announced  by  an  Angel  of 
the  Lord  to  neighboring  shepherds,  no  doubt  to  try  their 
faith,  whose    hearts    were    greatly    elated  by  being    thus 
honored  by  those  Holy  beings,  sent  expressly  as  ambassa- 
dors from  the   iMajesty  on  High,  to  inform  them  that  the 
long  expected  Messiah  had  appeared,  commissioning  them 
to  proceed  thither,  to  worship  the  infant  Jesus;  the  Alpha 
and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  ending;  he  in  whom  they 
lived,  moved,  and  had" their  being;  the  Eternal  Father,  iu 
the  character  of  his  only  begotten  Son,  Emanuel,  veiled  in 
the  human  form,  lying  in  a  manger.    O!  what  humility,  mani- 
fested   by  unbounded,  boundless  love.     Nothing  wavering, 
but  on  the  departure  of  the  Celestial  Host,  the  shepherds 
left  their  flocks  on  the  mountain  side  ami  commenced  their 
journey  to  pay  obeisance  to  the  illustrious  stranger,  whom 
they  discovered  wrapped  in  swadlii^g  clothes,  lying  in  a  man- 
ger; they  fell  down  and  worshipped  Jesus,  after  which  they 
presented  unto  him  gifts,  gold,  and  frankincense  and  myrrh; 
according  to  the  custom  of, the  East,  on  the  birth  of  great 
persons.     They  then  returned,  praishig  and  glorifying  God. 
At  the  circumcising  of  the  child,  Simeon,  to  whom  it  had 
been  previously  revealed  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  was  led  by  the 
spirit  into  the  temple,  and  testified  that  this  was  the  Lord's 
Christ;  a  light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles  and  the  glory  of  Israel. 
Anna  the  prophetess  coming  in  at  the  time,  gave   thanks 
likewise  unto  the  Lord,  and  spake  of  him  to  all  who  looked 
for  redemption  in  Jerusalem.     Most  certainly  then,  this  was 
he  who  was  to  bear  our  iniquity;  to  comfort  the  mourners; 
to  give  them  beauty  for  ashes,  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning;  the  : 


4  ON  FAITH. 

garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness ;  that  they  might 
be  called  trees  of  righteousness,  the  planting  of  the  Lord, 
that  he  might  be  glorified.     John  the  Baptist,  the  forerunner 
of  our  Lord,  when  baptising  the  multitudes  that  came  unto 
him,  being  in  expectation,  and  musing  in  their  hearts  wheth- 
er  he  were  the  Christ,  said  unto  them,  "I  indeed  baptise 
you  with  water,  but  one  mightier  than  I  conieth,  the  latches 
of  whose  shoes  1  am  not  worthy  to  unloose  ;  he  shall  baptise 
you  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire,  for  to  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven^  ye  miist  all  he  born  again  jrom  above  with 
water  and  the  Holy  Spirit-^  whose  fan  is  in  his  hand  and  he 
will  thoroughly  purge  his  floor,  and  will  gather  the  wheat  into 
his  garner,  but   will  burn  the   chaff  with  fire  unquenchable. 
After  which  Jesus  himself  came  unto  John  to  be  baptised  of 
him,  and  lol   the  heavens  were  opened,  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
descended  in  the  form  of  a  dove  and  rested  upon  him,  and  a 
voice  came  from  heaven,  saying,  "  This  is  my  beloved  son  in 
whom  1  am  well  pleased,  hear  ye  him,"     As  therefore,  God 
our  Creator  acknowledged  him  as  his  son  and  was  pleased, 
ought  not  we  his  creatures  hear  and  believe  in  him  1  for  in 
him  dwelt  the  Godhead  bodily.     Let  us  examine  what  he 
says.     After  having  been  tempted  foity  days  and  nights  of 
Satan,  he  was  at  length  taken  upon  the  pinnacle  of  the  tem- 
ple by  the  devil,  who  said  unto  him,  "  If  thou  art  the  son  of 
God  cast  thyself  down  from  hence."     Jesus  answered  and 
said,  "  thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God.'"     Here  is 
confirmed  what  I  have  been  seeking  to  establish,  that  he  was 
the  promised  Messiah  in  his  human  nature;  and  in  the  divine 
equal  with  God  from  all  eternity,  who  said  unto  him,  "  Thy 
throne,  O  God,  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting;  a  sceptre 
of  righteousness  is  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom."     It  is  also 
said  there  are  three  that  bear  recoid  in  heaven,  the  Father, 
the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  three  are  one. 

Although  in  the  sacred  writings  are  many  things  hard  to 
be  understood,  and  although  we  are  unable  to  comprehend 
the  mystery  of  the  Godhead,  the  ^J'rinity  in  the  Unity,  yet 


ON  FAITH.  5 

nevertheless,  we  are  to  receive  and  believe  the  truth  thereof, 
for  thereon  depends  the  salvation  of  our  immortal  souls. 
"  Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith.''  "  He 
that  believeth  and  is  baptised  shall  be  saved,  and  he  that  be- 
lieveth  not  shall  be  damned,"  are  the  words  of  our  Lord, 
delivered  while  tabernacling  among  men;  going  about  heal- 
ing the  sick,  raising  the  dead,  and  giving  life  to  as  many 
as  came  unto  him.  "  1  am,'*  says  he,  "  the  resurrection 
and  the  life,  he  that  believeth  in  me  though  he  were  dead 
yet  shall  he  live,  and  he  that  liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall 
never  die."  O  glorious  truth,  to  live  forever  with  our  Belov- 
ed in  a  world  too  unchangeable!  free  from  heat  and  cold,  sin, 
sorrow,  and  sighing;  in  a  heaven  of  holiness,  illuminated 
by  the  effulgent  beams  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness;  to  see 
God  as  he  is,  face  to  face;  who  shall  wipe  all  tears  from  our 
eyes,  and  exalt  us  from  glory  to  glory,  forevermore.  They 
that  were  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament, 
and  they  that  turned  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars 
forever  and  ever. 

While  our  Lord  continued  on  earth,  ministering  to  the 
Saints,  building  them  up  in  the  most  holy  faith,  he  wrought 
such  stupendous  miracles,  and  spake  with  such  power,  ac- 
companied with  the  divine  unction,  that  compelled  many  to 
confess  that  he  spake  as  never  man  spake,  and  that  he  was 
of  a  truth  the  i\Jessiah,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.  Jesus 
Christ  was  not  sent  into  the  world  to  condemn  the  world, 
but  that  the  world  through  him  might  be  saved.  Now  he 
that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already,  because  there  is  no 
other  name  given  whereby  men  can  or  mnst  be  saved.  Will 
you,  whatever  your  prospects  may  be,  will  you,  I  repeat, 
continue  in  this  awful  state  of  condemnation  ?  if  not,  then 
grasp  the  promises  through  faith  in  the  Lamb  of  God;  whose 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and  purifies  unto  himself  pecu- 
liar people,  zealous  of  good  works. 

During  our  Lord's  sojourn,  many  had  their  sick  restored  to 
health,  yea  even  the  dead  were  raised;  the  lame  were  healed, 


6  OIN  FAITH. 

and  the  blind  restorod  to  sight;  to  the  broken  hearted  balm 
and  oil  were  administered  spiritually,  and  they  were  comfort- 
ed, and  the  contrite  spirits  were  revived.  Thus  he  continued 
dispensing  his  blessings,  temporal  and  spiritual,  although 
contrary  to  the  world  and  its  ways;  by  which,  notwithstand- 
ing his  great  merit  and  virtue,  righteousness  and  holiness,  and 
all  that  was  advanced  to  prove  that  he  was  the  Son  of  Godi 
it  rejected  and  would  not  believe  on  him;  but  persecute, 
oppiess  and  revile  him,  and  at  length  behold  they  crown 
him  with  thorns,  and  scourge  him;  he  is  led  forth  to  be 
crucified!  Tause,  O  sinners,  and  behold  his  suffering  that 
you  might  live!     Yes,  he  is  lead  forth  to  be  crucified  : — 

Lo !  the  Lord,  the  Lord  of  Glory, 

Behold  him  now  on  yonder  road, 
Leading  to  the  hill  of  Calvary ; 

The  Lord,  the  Lord,  Creation's  God. 

Surrounded  by  a  ruffian  band 

Of  soldiers,  and  miscellaneous  crowd, 
Who  beset  him  on  either  hand, 

Reviling  and  upbraiding  loud. 

Afar  off  are  his  -companions, 

Lest  they  suffer  for  the  same  cause, 
Of  having  been  faithful  -jhampions. 

Under  their  Master,  for  the  truth. 

Forsaken  by  his  intimate  friends,  betrayed  by  one  and  de- 
serted by  the  others;  it  was  the  power  of  datkness.  He  was 
nailed  to  the  cross!  became  a  spectacle  to  men  and  Angels, 
heaven  and  earth.  The  enormous  load  of  human  guilt,  be- 
ing that  of  the  whole  world,  for  which  he  suffered,  induced 
God  to  withdraw  as  it  were  his  countenance  for  awhile, 
showing  no  signs  that  this  was  his  son.  During  the  suspen- 
sion of  the  intercourse  with  the  Father,  in  agony  and  agita- 
tion of  spirit,  hi  cried  out:  "My  God!  My  God!  why  hast 
thou  forsaken  me?" 

Yet,  notwithstanding  liis  great  suffering  he  prayed  for  his 
murderers,  "  Father  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what 
they  do;"  and  to  the  women  he  said  "  weep  not  daughters  of 


ON  FAITH.  7 

Jerusalem  for  me,  but  for  yourselves  and  your  children;" 
knowing  their  unbelief  and  depravity,  to  whom  he  had  said 
on  a  former  occasion,  "  ye  bring  up  your  children  ten  times 
more  the  children  of  hell  than  ye  are  yourselves." 

O  v.diat  an  astonishing  mystery!  he  wlio  formed  all  worlds 
of  nothing.  The  Father  of  Infinity,  in  whom  all  things 
move  and  have  their  being.  The  Kmg  of  Power  Omnipo- 
tent, who  could  have  called  the  ht'avenly  hosts  to  subdue 
and  put  to  flight  all  his  foes;  this  mighty,  glorious  and  holy 
being — 

Han^s  between  heaven  and  earth, 

As  if  unworthy  of  either ; 
Suffers  an  ignominious  death, 

As  though  oiily  a  form'd  creature. 

The  air  resounds  with  cries, 

And  noise,  as  of  distant  thunder; 
Earth  quakes,  the  pillars  of  the  skies 

Tremble,  and  rocks  burst  asunder. 

The  temple  is  rent  to  the  bottom; 

The  Sun  flies  the  indignant  sight, 
And  draws  his  golden  beams  therefrom, 

The  whole  earth  lays  in  gloom  as  night. 

Satan  with  his  force  in  hell  shout. 

Darkness  re-echoes  hideous  yells, 
The  Angels  of  light  weep  aldud, 

And  all  heaven  in  sympathy  mells. 

By  the  convulsion  of  the  earth,  and  shaking  the  expanse 
of  heaven,  God,  with  awful  majesty,  who  is  strict  in  justice, 
executing  judgment,  answered  from  his  throne  of  glory  amid 
transcendant  holiness;  thus  testifying  that  this  was  he  who 
was  one  with,  and  came  out  from  him  to  be  man  with  man, 
for  the  fulfilment  of  his  promise  and  to  atone  for  the  sins  of 
the  world.  The  quaking  of  the  firmament  and  the  com- 
mingling of  sounds  which  struck  terror  into  his  murderers 
and  caused  them  to  tremble,  and  some  to  exclaim,  "Truly 
this  was  the  son  of  God."  The  holy  victim  soon  after  ex- 
claimed, "  It  is  finished;  Father  into  thy  hands  I  commend 


8  ON  FAITH. 

my  spirit;"  and  bowed  his  sacred  head  and  died.  To  one 
of  the  thieves  that  was  crucified  with  him,  he  said  a  little 
before,  "  Verily,  to-day  thou  shalt  be  with  me  in  Paradise  " 
His  faith  saved  him  at  the  eleventh  hour;  the  immortality 
of  the  soul  was  thus  again  established. 

Devout  Joseph  of  Aramathea,  and  Nicodemus,  with  Pi- 
late's consent,  took  our  Lord  from  the  cross,  and  laid  him  in 
Joseph's  own  tomb,  wherein  never  man  had  lain.  His  ene- 
mies were  on  the  alert,  and  as  he  had  said  he  should  rise 
again  in  three  days,  they  obtained  Pilate's  approbation  to 
secure  the  tomb  with  their  seal  and  stationed  a  watch  around 
it.  Every  mind  was  in  suspense,  the  Sun  again  resumed  his 
daily  round  through  the  heavealy  expanse  and  sunk  behind 
the  Western  horizon;  the  sky  all  clear  and  serene,  sprinkled 
over  by  an  innumerable  host  of  stars;  the  moon  coursed 
between  worlds  and  planets;  day  passed  after  day,  night  af- 
ter night;  death  still  held  his  sceptre  over  our  Lord;  still  and 
silent  the  hours  passed  on:  his  enemies  exulted  with  one  ac- 
cord; his  friends  were  sad  and  forlorn;  the  celestial  hosts  of 
glory  anxious  to  behold  the  event,  and  learn  of  the  Almighty 
how  he  would  the  mystery  unfold.  The  guard  stood  at  their 
post,  the  rays  of  the  midnight  moon  gleamed  upon  their  hel- 
mets and  their  spears;  the  Morning  Star  arose,  and  the  East- 
ern liorizon  again  resumed  its  resplendent  hue;  the  golden 
orb  came  apace,  illumined  and  ushered  in  the  dawn  of  the 
third  day.  Lb!  again  the  earth  quaked,  the  powers  of  heav- 
en shook,  an  angel  of  the  Lord  descended  and  rolled  the 
stone  from  the  tomb;  he  seated  himself  upon  it;  his  counte- 
nance was  like  lightning,  his  raiment  whiteassnow;  the  guards 
were  terrified,  confounded,  and  fell  to  the  ground.  Lo!  he 
new  comes  forth  from  the  tomb,  the  conqueror  of  sin,  death, 
hell  and  tiie  devil.  Who  is  this  that  comes  from  Edom 
vvith  dyed  garments  from  Hozrah  ?  this  that  is  glorious  in  his 
apparel,  traveling  in  the  greatness  of  his  strength;  to  which 
the  illustrious  Saviour  replied,  "  I  that  speak  in  very  right- 
eousness, mighty  to  save."     He  arose  triumphantl3%  the  first 


ON  FAITH.  9 

fruit  of  nature's  earthy   womb,  and  subdued  death  of  its 
terror: — 

Lo !  never  was  the  creation, 

Veil'd  in  splendour  so  glorious ; 
Nor  auspicious  morn  to  ev'ry  nation, 

To  inspire  with  hope  and  make  righteous. 

'Twas  the  Universe's  jubilee, 

Vallies  and  lawns  lift  up  their  voice, 
There  was  melody  'mong  the  trees  ; 

The  hills  and  mountains  did  rejoice. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  air, 

Were  passing,  warblmg  to  and  fro, 
The  morning  stars  sang  together, 

And  all  God's  sons  shouted  loud  for  joy. 

The  air  resounded  with  songs  of  praise, 

Re-echoed  by  the  highest  heaven, 
Oe'r  Oceans,  deserts,  and  highways. 

To  our  illustrious  Prince  of  Zion. 

Early  in  the  morning  came  Mary  Magdalene  and  the 
other  Mary,  to  see  the  sepulchre;  the  angel  answered  and 
said,  "Fear  not  ye,  for  1  know^  that  ye  seek  Jesus  which 
was  crucified.  He  is  not  here,  for  he  is  risen  as  he  said. — 
Come  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay."  He  then  told 
them  to  inform  his  disciples  that  Jesus  had  risen,  and  would 
go  before  them  into  Gallilee.  While  returning  with  fear 
and  great  joy,  they  met  Christ,  saying,  "  All  Hail."  They 
fell  down  and  worshipped  him,  who  confirmed  the  words  of 
the  Angel  that  he  would  go  into  Gallilee.  He  afterwards 
appeared  to  Cleopas  and  another  of  the  disciples  on  the  road 
leading  to  Enmiaus,  their  sight  being  held  so  as  not  to  know 
their  former  master;  perceiving  their  grief,  he  inquired  the 
cause;  they  inform  him  of  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus  and  all 
that  had  happened  in  Jerusalem,  adding  thai  it  was  thought 
he  should  have  been  Israel's  redeemer;  but  it  was  the  third 
day  since  he  died,  and  that  certain  women  had  seen  a  vi- 
sion of  Angels,  who  said  he  had  risen.  Jesus  answered  and 
said,  *' O  fools,  and  slow   of  heart,  to  believe  all  that  the 


10  ON  FAITH. 

pmpbets  have  spoken."  He  then  expounded  the  scripture 
unto  them,  beginning  at  Moses,  through  all  the  prophets;  how 
that  Christ  ought  to  have  suffered  for  to  enter  into  liis  glory. 
They  arrived  at  the  village,  and  the  disciples  constrained  him 
to  stay  with  them;  he  went  in,  (being  towards  evening)  and 
while  at  meat  took  bread,  blessed  it,  and  gave  to  them,  and 
their  eyes  were  opened,  so  that  they  knew  him,  and  he  van- 
ished out  of  their  sight.  They  immediately  returned  to  Je- 
rusalem, and  meeting  the  disciples  and  others  assembled 
together,  they  made  known  what  had  occurred  on  the  way, 
and  how  Christ  was  known  to  them  by  breaking  of  bread. 
While  they  yet  spake,  Jesus  appeared  hi  their  midst,  saying, 
"  Peace  be  unto  you,"  but  they  supposing  him  to  be  a  spirit, 
were  terrified  and  affrighted;  he  said  unto  them,  "  Why  are 
ye  troubled,  and  why  -do  thoughts  arise  in  your  hearts  ?"  he 
added  that  a  spirit  had  not  flesh  and  bones  as  he  had,  and 
showed  them  his  hands  and  feet  to  convince  them  of  their 
unbelief;  and  while  they  yet  doubted  and  wondered  for  joy, 
he  demanded  whether  they  had  any  meat,  and  did  eat  be- 
fore them.  He  then  confirmed  his  former  sayings,  that  all 
things  had  to  be  fulfilled  which  was  written  in  the  law  of 
Moses,  in  the  prophets,  and  in  the  psalms,  concerning  him; 
and  he  opened  their  understanding  that  they  might  know  the 
scriptures;  that  Christ  would  pour  floods  of  light  into  every 
benighted  soul,  this  day  illuminate  every  one  so  as  to  obtain 
a  living  faith,  that  the  word  of  God  might  have  free  course, 
and  be  glorified,  that  sinners  would  no  longer  suffer  Satan, 
the  great  enemy  of  immortal  souls,  to  take  the  word  out 
of  their  heaits,  and  deprive  them  of  the  comfort  they  might 
otherwise  enjoy,  l)y  bringing  forth  fruit  an  hundred  fold,  by 
believing  with  the  heart  unto  righteousness.  Jesus  also  said 
unto  them,  as  it  was  written,  so  it  l^ehoved  Christ  to  suffer 
and  rise  from  the  dead  ihe  third  day,  and  that  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins  should  be  preached  in  his  name  among  all 
nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem.  It  appeared  that  one  of  the 
twelve,  named  Thomas,  was  not  with  them  when  Jesus 


ON  FAITH.  1 1 

appeared  to  them-;  ihey  informed  him  of  the  fact,  but  his  in- 
credulity induced  him  to  say,  that  unless  he  saw  the  print  of 
the  nails  and  put  his  finger  into  them,  and  his  hand  into  his 
side,  he  would  not  believe.  Eight  da}s  after,  they  were 
again  together,  when  Jesus  appeared  in  the  midst  of  them 
saying,  "  Peace  be  unto  you;"  and  to  Thomas  he  said,  reach 
hither  thy  finger,  and  behold  my  har.ds;  and  reach  hither  thy 
hand  and  thrust  it  into  my  side,  and  be  not  faithless  but  be- 
lieve. Thomas  then  exclaimed,  "My  Lord,  and  my  God!" 
Jesus  said  unto  him,  Thomas,  because  thou  hast  sc  en  thou 
believest;  blessed  are  they  that  have  not  seen,  and  yet  believe. 
So  shall  it  be  to  the  end  of  time,  as  long  as  the  earth  re- 
volves; the  sun,  moon,  and  stars  continue  in  their  courses  in 
the  firmament,  those  that  bt^heve  shall  be  saved,  and  those 
that  believe  not  shall  be  damned.  *^  Examine  yourselves, 
whether  ye  be  in  the  faith." 

Again  Jesus  showed  himself  to  his  disciples  at  the  sea  of 
Tiberias,  where  Simon  Peter,  Thomas,  and  five  others  were 
together  fishing.  Having  toiled  all  night  and  taken  nothing, 
the  darkness  disappeared  before  the  lustre  of  the  morn,  with 
the  Sun  illuminating  the  surrounding  scene,  when  a  person 
appeared  on  the  shore,  as  if  come  from  a  Golden  Beam,  who 
accosted  them  and  said,  cast  thy  net  on  the  right  hand  side 
of  the  ship;  they  therefore  dropt  it  as  he  said,  and  were  now 
unable  to  draw  it  for  the  multitude  of  fishes.  The  disciple 
whom  Jesus  loved,  said  unto  Peter,  it  is  Jesus  the  Lord. — 
Peter  immediately  girt  on  his  coat  and  threw  himself  into  the 
water,  hastening  to  his  adored;  the  others  followed  in  the 
ship,  dragging  the  net.  After  landing  ihey  beheld  a  fire  with 
fish  and  bread  thereon;  they  there  dined  with  Jesus,  who 
gave  them  bread  and  fish;  ministering  unto  them  temporal, 
as  well  as  spiritual  things;  from  whom,  with  the  Father  and 
Holy  Ghost,  ever  one  God,  world  without  end,  cometh  every 
good  and  perfect  gift.  There  was  such  holy  awe  upon  them 
that  none  durst  ask,  "  Who  art  thou  ?"  knowing  he  was  the 
Prince  of  Zion.     He  did  not  remain  with  his  disciples  as  he 


12  ON  FAITH. 

was  wont,  but  his  visits  were  as  those  of  an  angel,  at  inter- 
vals, to  confirm,  strengthen  and  perfect  them  in  their  most 
holy  faith,  and  to  prepare  them  more  fully  for  the  ministry; 
to  be  his  witnesses  wherever  they  should  be  sent  by  him, 
ordaining  them  to  teach  all  nations,  and  to  baptise  them  in 
the  name  of  God  the  Father,  and  of  God  the  Son,  and  of 
God  the  Holy  Ghost;  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  he 
had  commanded  them,  and  he  would  be  with  them  always, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  He  was  afterwards  follow- 
ed by  them,  together  with  many  others,  in  number  about  five 
hundred,  to  Bethany,  where  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and  bles- 
sed them,  and  immediately  a  cloud  received  him  out  of  their 
sight,  and  carried  him  up  into  heaven;  the  company  fell  down 
and  worshipped  him;  and  as  they  were  looking  after  him, 
towards  heaven,  two  men  in  white  apparel  stood  by  them 
saying,  "  Ye  men  of  Gallilee,  why  stand  ye  gazing  up  into 
heaven?  this  same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up  from  you  into 
heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him 
go  into  heaven."  They  then  returned,  praising  and  glorifying 
God. 

1  have  now  shown  from  scripture  testimony,  beyond  the 
power  of  contradiction,  that  Christ  was  bom;  ministered  here 
on  earth;  accomplished  his  mission;  and  ascended  up  on  high, 
to  assume  his  former  greatness;  and  as  mediator  of  the  new 
covenant  which  he  has  established,  whom  God  hath  also 
highly  exalted  and  given  him  a  name  above  every  other,  that 
at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow,  of  things  in 
heaven,  and  of  things  on  earth,  and  of  things  under  the  earth; 
and  that  every  tongue  should  confess  that  Jesus  is  Lord,  to 
the  glory  of  God  the  Father:  and  also  exalted  him  a  Prince 
and  a  Saviour  for  to  give  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  to 
all  that  come  unto  him,  believing  that  he  is  the  Saviour,  God, 
and  a  rewarder  of  all  who  diligently  seek  him. 

His  apostles  being  endued  with  power  from  on  high,  and 
fiUed  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  spake  with  other  tongues,  testi- 
fying to  all  these  wonderful  things,  confounding  the  people 


ON  FAITH.  IS 

who  heard  them,  every  one  in  his  own  dialect,  from  various 
countries,  that  were  journeying  in  Jerusalem,  and  who  heard 
them  speak  the  woriderful  works  of  God;  they  were  amazed 
and  in  doubt,  saying  one  to  another,  "  What  meaneth  this?" 
others  mocked,  but  Peter  with  the  eleven  became  more  bold 
and  labored  with  more  zeal,  and  preached  more  fervently  to 
convince  them  of  the  truth  stated  above,  relating  to  our 
Emanuel,  whom  thay  had  slain,  whose  soul  was  not  left  in 
hell,  neither  did  his  flesh  see?  corruption;  and  whom  God 
raised  from  the  dead,  and  exalted  to  his  own  right  hand,  un- 
til he  should  make  all  his  foes  his  footstool;  and  he  also  as- 
sured them  that  God  had  made  this  same  Jesus  whom  they 
had  crucified,  both  Lord  and  Christ;  which  caused  some  to 
tremble,  and  to  be  pricked  in  their  hearts,  crying  out  to  the 
Apostles,  "  x\]en  and  brethren  what  sliall  we  do  ?"  To  which 
Peter  replied,  "  Kepent  and  be  baptised  every  one  of  you  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye 
shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost;"  and  with  many 
words  did  he  testify  and  exhort,  saying,  save  yourselves  from 
this  untoward  generation.  As  many  as  received  these  im- 
portant truths,  were  baptised,  and  the  same  day  were  added 
unto  the  church  about  three  thousand  souls,  who  remained 
steadfast  in  the  apostle's  doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  ♦in 
breaking  of  bread  and  in  prayers. 

As  Peter  and  John  were  going  into  the  temple  at  the  time 
of  prayer,  they  were  asked  for  aims  by  one  who  had  been 
impotent  in  his  feet  horn  his  mother's  womb;  who  lay  daily 
at  the  gate  called  beautiful,  to  whom  Peter  said,  silver  or 
gold  have  1  none,  but  such  asl  have  give  1  thee;  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  rise  up  and  walk.  Peter  took 
him  by  the  hand,  when  he  immediately  received  strength, 
leaped  and  praised  God.  The  multitude  were  again  aston- 
ished at  w^hat  they  saw;  Peter  w  ith  his  former  firmness,  among 
other  things,  said  unto  them,  ye  have  denied  the  Holy  One 
and  the  just,  and  desired  a  murderer  to  be  granted  unto  you, 
and  killed  the  Prince  of  Life,  whom  God  hath  raised  from 


14  ON  FAITH. 

the  dead,  whiM-eof  we  are  witriasse^i.  And  Me,  through  faith 
in  his  name,  h  ith  made  the  man  strong,  vvhoin  they  saw  and 
knew;  yea  the  faith  that  is  in  him  had  given  him  that  perfect 
soundness  in  the  presence  of  them  all.  We  find  that  the 
apostles  continued  to  preach  and  persuade  men  to  repent, 
and  confirmed  their  words  by  miracles,  God  bearing  them 
witness  with  signs  and  wonders,  for  whom  they  had  the  hon- 
or to  suffer  persecution,  and  at  different  times  imprisonment 
for  the  benefit  of  men,  and  tlie  salvation  of  souls;  they  pa- 
tiently endured  all  things  that  their  enemies  might  behokl 
the  wonderful  mercy  and  goodness  of  God,  manifested  in 
their  behalf,  who  desireth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner,  but 
rather  that  all  should  repent  and  live.  Out  of  all  their  per- 
plexity and  trouble  the  blessed  L.ord  delivered  them,  and 
afterward  received  them  to  glory,  according  to  the  power  of 
faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus^  '-Examine  yourselves,, wheth- 
er ye  be  in  the  faith.'' 

Jesus  Christ  sayeth,  "Not  every  one  that  shall  say  unto 
me  Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  but 
he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  father  which  is  in  heaven."  A 
loose,  worldly  faith,  therefore,  availeth.  nothing,  for  even  tlie 
devils  believe  and  tremble,  knowing  that  there  is  no  possi- 
bpility  for  them  to  repent,  and  be  accepted  through  the  merit 
and  blood  of  Jesus,  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  was  slain 
for  your  sins,  provided  while  you  are  yet  in  time,  you  attain 
unto  a  lively  faith;  a  faith  which  works  by  love  and  tempers 
every  unholy  feeling  to  its  own  congenial  nature;  purifying 
your  affections,  so  that  you  may  be  able  to  love,  reverence, 
and  honor  God  as  you  should;  to  warship  him  in  spirit  and 
in  truth  and  in  the  beauty  of  holiness;  to  delight  mo^e  and 
more  in  God  and  every  thing  heavenly  and  divine;  abhoring 
at  the  same  time  all  that  has  the  least  appearance  of  evil; 
and  to  pant  after  the  perfect  love  of  God,  as  a  hart  panteth 
after  the  water-brook;  longing  for  it  as  for  your  daily  foo^; 
as  it  is  written,  the  just  shall  live  by  faith,  and  whatsoever 
is  not  of  faith  is  sinful;  you  will  then  do  all  for  the  glory  of 


ON   FAITH.  15 

God,  and  shun  every  thing  that  is  opposed  to  vital  Godliness 
and  the  spreading  of  true  Christianity  over  the  whole  earth; 
you  will  no  longer  seek  after  earthly  things  doomed  to  perish 
as  the  grass,  nor  your  own  glory,  which  passeth  away  as  the 
flower  of  the  field;  but  after  the  things  above,  where  also 
Jesus  has  entered  into  the  holy  of  holies;  your  conversation 
will  be  in  heaven;  you  will  feast  in  love  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  fore- 
taste of  the  immortal  sweets  which  the  holy  hill  of  Sion 
yields  to  the  true  believer,  whose  trust  is  in  simplicity,  in  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  with  sincerity  and  uprightness 
of  heart,  humbly  laying  Iiold  on  the  Omnipotent  Arm  of  Je- 
hovah, and  pressing  toward  the  mark  of  their  high  calling 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus;  always  zealously  affected  in  a  good 
thing;  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord;  instant  in  prayer  in 
season  and  out  of  season;  watching  and  supplicating  to  grow 
in  grace,  in  knowledge,  wisdom  and  understanding,  in  heav- 
enly-mindedness;  to  belike  unto  the  Angels  of  God,  pure  and 
holy;  with  whom  you  are  certain  if  you  endure  unto  the  end, 
to  associate;  you  will  therefore  watch  and  pray,  so  that  no 
man  take  away  yo  u*  crown;  sing  praises  and  make  melody 
in  your  heart  unto  God;  whose  temple  you  are,  as  our  dear 
Saviour  saith,  John,  14th  chapter,  23d  verse — "  If  a  man 
love  me  he  will  keep  my  words,  and  my  Father  will  honor 
him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him  and  make  our  abode  with 
him."  You  will  also  walk. in  the  spirit  every  day,  so  as  not 
(o  fulfil  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  for  he  that  commiteth  sin  and 
indulges  in  carnal  pleasures  to  gratify  his  own  passions,  or 
to  please  his  neighbors,  contniry  to  all  revelation,  and  to  the 
will  of  God,  is  of  the  devil,  who  is  the  father  of  all  evil,  a  liar 
and  murderer  from  tha  beginning.  I  exhort  you,  young  and 
old,  by  all  that  should  be  most  dear  to  you;  by  your  immor- 
tal souls,  to  dissolve  all  connection  this  day,  with  so  foul  and 
cruel  a  master;  no  longer  to  be  his  slaves,  remaining  in  bon- 
dage to  him,  driven  hither  and  thither  in  his  abominable 
cause;  mark  the  result  when  persevered  in — eternal  death. 


16  ON  FAITH. 

and  the  torments  of  hell  and  outer  darkness,  prepared  for  him 
and  his  angels,  as  a  recompence  of  reward;  O  poor  com- 
pensation, yet  there  is  none  other  promised  to  those  dying  in 
his  service,  who  will  never  have  known  true  peace  and  com- 
fort in  time,  to  be  enjoyed  by  a  life  of  Godliness,  and  in  eter- 
nity, as  we  have  stated,  everlasting  contempt  and  banishment 
from  the  presence  of  God,  the  Lord  Christ,  the  Holy  Angels, 
and  the  just  made  perfect;  living  in  resplendent  glory,  surpas- 
sing the  lustre  of  the  meridian  Sun,  unutterable  bliss,  and  in- 
describable holy  happiness.  1  exhort  you  once  more  to  break 
all  ties  with  Satan,  as  you  cannot  serve  him  and  God;  there- 
fore, if  you  desire  to  be  saved  through  the  atonement  of 
Christ,  the  mighty  chieftain  of  our  salvation,  break,  I  say, 
break  the  bonds  of  Satan,  by  which  you  are  held  captive  at 
his  will — through  the  power  of  faith  working  by  love,  which 
you  may  obtain  without  money  and  without  price,  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  the  second  part  of  our  subject. 
Secondly.     Prove  your  ownselves  : — 

As  each  and  every  one,  seperately  and  collectively,  as  a 
body,  is  and  are  responsible  for  all  that  is  done  here  in  time, 
to  our  great  Parent,  the  Autlior  of  our  being,  and  every  good 
and  perfect  gift,  our  bountiful  benefactor,  and  merciful  provi- 
der; whose  promises  to  all  true  believers,  are  yea  and  amen, 
everlasting  lite  in  Heaven  to  all  holy;  and  outer  darkness 
prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels,  where  there  shall  be 
weeping,  and  wailing,  and  gnashing  of  teeth,  to  all  unbeliev- 
eis,  the  seed  of  the  serpent  forever.  God  through  Christ, 
the  Almighty,  the  habitation  of  whose  throne  is  Justice,  and 
Judgment  goeth  before  him,  will  most  assuredly  fulfil  his 
words,  although  heaven  and  earth  pass  away,  and  doom  ev- 
ery impenitent  sinner  to  eternal  death:  ah!  were  it  a  death 
like  unto  the  brute  creation's,  an  annihilation  forever,  there 
would  be  some  excuse  for  sinners  to  live  as  they  do,  day  after 
day,  and  night  after  night,  working  iniquity  with  greediness; 
but  be  it  known  to  all  you,  that  God,  glory  to  his  name,  has 


ON  FAITH.  17 

honored  us  far  above  the  animal  creation,  which  1  need  not 
inform  you,  neither  speak  nor  understand  to  any  perfection; 
they  are  incapable  of  arranging  ideas;  they  are  void  of  com.  l 
prehension,  and  therefore,  not  accountable  to  their  Creator 
for  their  actions,  as  are  men  who  possess  immortal  souls;  yet 
notwithstanding,  by  their  demeanor  they  often  give  the  blush 
to  some  of  the  doings  of  men  performed  in  the  dark,  and  too 
often  in  the  open  day,  in  the  face  of  High  Heaven,  and  Him 
that  sitteth  oa  the  throne,  who  is  perfect  in  holiness.  O  th^ 
filthy  odour  ascending  from  the  abominations  committed  on 
the  earth,  instead  of  praises  and  blessings  to  mingle  with  the 
heavenly  strains  of  the  celestial  hosts,  who  unweariedly  sing 
"  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  Almighty,  who  wast,  and 
art,  and  art  to  come;  just  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou  King 
of  Saints."  iVIen,  I  say  again,  are  accountable  for  their  ac- 
tions, because  Adam  and  Eve,  our  first  parents,  came  pure 
and  holy  from  the  hands  of  the  Creator,  in  his  own  hkeness, 
with  immortal  souls  and  faculties  to  reason  and  understand, 
to  commune  and  hold  conversation  together  for  the  consum- 
mation of  their  happiness;  in  which  state  they  might  have 
remained,  being  free  agents,  but  through  the  subtilty  of  Satan 
they  fell  from  their  high  and  holy  estate,  and  awful  was  the 
consequence;  disgrace  upon  themselves,  and  expulsion  from 
Paradise,  and  sin  and  misery  upon  all  their  posterity,  whence 
it  comes  that  men  are  all  born  in  sin  and  prone  to  evil. — 
However,  God,  whose  mercy  endureth  forever,  came  to  our 
relief  and  provided  a  remedy  to  heal  the  breach  and  open  a 
way  to  glory,  as  1  have  stated  in  the  preceeding  part  of  my 
discourse : —  "  Behold  I  lay  in  Sion  a  stumbling  stone  and 
rock  of  offence,  that  whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  be 
saved,  and  whosoever  believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  Men 
and  brethren  you  are  called  upon  to  prove  your  ownselves, 
whether  ye  are  not  offended  at  this  stumbling  stone,  and  rock 
of  offence;  pry  into  the  secrets  of  your  hearts,  and  see  if  you 
have  any  inclination  to  undervalue  the  merit  of  this  holy 
Being,  who  is  often  made  an  object  of  ridicule  by  little 

4 


18  ON  FAITH. 

minds;  or,  do  you  openly  profane  and  blaspheme  his  holy 
name,  as  too  many  do,  making  light  of  divine  things,  taking 
the  holy  name  of  God  and  his  Christ  into  their  polluted  lips, 
making  puns  upon  them  to  amuse  their  hearers  and  appear 
witty,  not  knowing  that  they  are  proving  themselves  desti- 
tute of  common  sense;  or  are  you  building  upon  this  founda- 
tion, firm  as  eternal  ages;  are  you  through  Christ  purging 
your  conscience  from  dead  works  to  serve  the  living  God, 
that  will  recommend  you  to  the  sight  of  all  men.  TaKe  the 
New  Testament  and  prove  your  ownselves,  whether  your 
hearts  are  right  in  the  sight  of  God;  be  not  deceived,  for  God 
is  not  mocked;  knowing  his  terrors  we  would  fain  persuade 
you  to  turn  fiom  the  error  of  your  ways,  turn,  turn  you,  why 
will  ye  die  ?  Vengeance  belongeth  to  me,  I  will  recompence 
saith  the  Lord,  the  Holy  one  of  Israel.  And  again,  the  Lord 
will  judge  his  people.  Verily  it  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  hving  God. 
Thirdly.     Know  ye  not  your  ownselves^  how  that  Jesus  Christ 

is  in  you^  except  ye  be  reprobates? 

Now  to  know  oneself  is  no  small  matter.  The  deprav- 
ity and  desperate  wickedness  of  the  human  heart,  who  can 
know  it  ?  No  one  is  sufficient  of  himself,  without  the  aid  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  to  attain  to  a  knowledge  of  himself.  The 
deceitfulness  of  sin,  and  the  subtle  suggestions  of  Satan  mix 
with  the  corrupt  nature  almost  imperceptibly,  and  those  that 
are  not  thoroughly  awake,  and  under  divine  influence,  will 
be  unable  to  discover  the  seed  thus  sown  by  the  wicked  one, 
until  they  are  overgrown  with  weeds  and  briars,  thorns  and 
thistles,  the  pricking  of  which  will  at  length  rouse  them  from 
their  carnal  sleep  and  unholy  dreaming,  when  they  will  dis- 
cover they  have  been  deceived;  but  alas!  for  many  it  will 
then  be  forever  too  late,  having  passed  the  rubicon  of  time  to 
appear  before  the  inflexible  bar  of  Christ.  Would  it  not  there- 
fore, be  infinitely  better  for  every  one  to  judge  himself  here, 
and  without  delay,  than  to  be  judged  beyond  the  grave;  for 
Christ  saith,   "  He  that  judgeth  himself  shall  not  be  judged," 


s     ON    FAITH.  19 

SYieaniiig  also  of  course,  that  he  will  depart  from  all  iniquity, 
and  lead  a  new  and  holy  life.  But,  say  some,  how  can  we 
judge  ourselves,  without  knowing  that  which  is  sin  from  that 
which  is  holy  ?  True,  you  cannot,  therefore,  read  and  Be- 
lieve the  scriptures,  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life, 
and  they  are  they  which  testify  of  me,  saith  the  Judge  of  all 
the  earth.  Keep  his  words  and  commandments,  which  shall 
judge  you  at  the  last  day;  to  disregard  them  you  are  at  once 
guilty  criminals  in  his  sight,  and  his  wrath  abides  upon  you, 
because  you  say  in  effect  we  will  not  have  him  to  reign  over 
us.  Who  is  he  that  should  make  laws  for  us  ?  It  is  indeed 
lamentable  to  know  that  there  are  thousands,  yea  millions  of 
human  beings  in  the  world,  called  christians,  who  hve  with- 
out hope,  and  consequently  a  saving  knowledge  of  God,  and 
trample  his  holy  laws  under  foot  with  impunity,  while  at  the 
same  time  the  commandments  of  men  they  will  not  presume 
to  violate!  It  is  astonishing  the  hatred  some  bear  towards 
the  King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords,  with  whose  statutes 
holy  King  David  was  so  much  delighted,  declaring  them  to 
be  "just,  and  wise,  and  good;"  and  at  another  place  he  saySf 
*^  Depart  from  me  ye  evil  doers,  for  1  will  keep  the  command- 
ments of  my  God."  Who  art  thou  O  man,  that  darest  to 
magnify  thyself  and  contemn  the  counsels  of  the  Most  Ingh? 
to  annul  those  laws  that  were  given  to  Moses,  the  man  of 
God,  with  such  terrible  majesty,  and  awful  solemnity  on 
Mount  Sinai  ?  Read  \t  in  Exodus,  20th  chapter,  when  the 
Lord  descended  in  a  cloud,  wmd,  fire,  thunder  lightning  and 
tempest,  and  the  mighty  soundings  of  the  tmmpet;  when  the 
Mount  greatly  quaked,  the  sight  being  so  terrible  that  even 
Moses  said,  "  I  exceedingly  fear  and  quake;''  his  whok^  host 
trembled.  Having  been  Ibrty  days  and  nights  with  G'  d  on 
the  Mount,  during  which  time  he  eat  nothing,  but  received 
and  descended  with  the  Divine  Law  of  the  Ten  Command- 
ments written  upon  stone  by  God  himself,  and  which  -r.re  to 
endure  until  time  shall  be  no  more;  neither  are  they  made 
void  by  the  new  covenant  which  is  by  Jesus  Christ.    The 


2a  ON  FArrH. 

great  apostle  saith  by  faith  we  do  not  annul  but  establish  the 
law.  Remember  all  that  is  written  in  the  law  and  the  proph- 
ets shall  be  fulfilled;  consequently  no  idolator,  nor  swearer, 
nor  blasphemer,  nor  Sabbath  breaker,  nor  despiser  of  parents, 
nor  murderer,  nor  adulterer,  nor  fornicator,  nor  false  accuser, 
nor  covetou'=,  nor  whoremonger,  nor  abuser  of  himself  with 
mankind,  nor  drunkard,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God, 
unless  they  labor  to  know  themselves,  and  that  their  practi- 
ces are  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of  heaven,  and  repent 
of  their  sins  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  through  our  Saviour  and 
Me.li;itor,  Jesus  Chi ist — the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life — 
and  put  on  the  new  man,  which  after  him  is  created  in  righte- 
ousness and  true  holiness.  Know  this,  O  hardened  sinners, 
that  he  is  constantly  interceeding  with  the  Father  in  your  be- 
half, to  stay  his  avenging  rod,  that  he  would  dig  about  you, 
that  haply  you  may  bring  forth  good  fruit,  if  ye  are  not  al- 
ready given  over  to  hardness  of  heart  and  reprobacy  of  mind? 
if  not,  that  you  shoukl  then  be  cut  down  as  dead  trees  and  as 
euviiberers  of  the  ground,  and  cast  into  the  unquenchable 
fire. 

2d.  How  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  you  except  ye  he  reprobates? 
All  you  that  have  been  born  again,  as  our  Lord  said  to 
Nichodemus,  of  water  and  of  the  spirit,  regenerated,  passed 
from  condemnation  into  hfe,  by  a  lively  faith  in  Jesus  through 
his  merit  and  righteousness,  and  being  purified  by  his  most 
prec  ous  and  holy  blood,  which  cleanses  from  all  sins,  and  to 
whom  Christ  has  become  wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and 
sanctification  and  redemption,  are  the  temple  of  God, 
"  Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God,  and  that  th^ 
spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you;"  1st.  Cor.,  3d  chap.  IGth  ver. 
And  if  God,  then  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  God,  dwelleth  in  you, 
even  the  Mystic  Trinity  of  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Spirit; 
pollute  not  therefore,  so  holy  a  tabernacle,  by  listening  to 
the  Unholy  suggestions  of  ^atan,  to  beguile  you  into  your 
old  habits  in  which  we  used  to  walk,  fulfilling  the  lusts  o 
the  flesh,  but  out  of  which  v\e  have  passed  into  the  gJoriaus 


ON   FAITH.  n 

liberty  which  is  in  Jesus  Christ,  our  master  and  pattern, 
through  whom  we  have  attained  unto  the  fulness  of  his  blessed 
stature  in  holiness;  let  it  not  therefore,  be  once  mentioned 
among  you,  that  you  desired  to  indulge  in  any  carnal  pleas- 
ure, and  thus  lower  the  dignity  of  true  Saints,  and  bring  into 
disrepute  vital  Christianity  at  the  same  time,  and  above  all 
doing  despite  to  the  holy  spirit  of  grace  whose  temple  we  are, 
being  reconciled  unto  God  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Lord,  and  enabled  to  cry  Abba,  Abba  Father,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  New  Testament,  and  privileged  boldly  to  ap- 
proach him  and  hold  sweet  communion  with  him,  as  a  child 
with  his  father,  by  prayer  and  supplications,  singing  and 
meditations,  and  devotional  exercises.  W'e  also  enjoy  the 
blessing  of  the  direct  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  testifying 
with  our  spirits,  that  we  are  born  of  God,  and  adopted  sons 
a^id  heirs,  and  joint  heirs  w»th  Christ;  and  by  remciining 
faithful,  shall  soon  be  with  him  in  Paradise,  where  he  is  en- 
throned in  indescribable  Glory;  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear 
heard,  neither  hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  con- 
ceive the  joys  prepared  for  his  saints  and  peculiar  people, 
zealous  of  good  works;  and  to  keep  under  our  adversary  th« 
Prince  of  darkness,  and  his  force,  our  spiritual  enemies,  or- 
ganized under  him,  and  going  about  as  roaring  Lions,  and 
Wolves  in  Sheep's  clothing,  seeking  whom  they  may  devour, 
combined  with  men  in  the  shape  of  ourselves,  who  have  the 
form  of  Godhness  but  deny  the  power,  building  for  themselves 
cisterns,  broken  cisterns  which  can  hold  no  water;  their  case 
is  lamentable  in  the  extreme,  as  many  of  them  come  under 
the  conclusion  of  our  text.  St.  Paul  also  terms  them  "men 
of  corrupt  minds,  reprobates,  concerning  the  faith;  ever  learn- 
ing  and  never  able  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth;'' 
creatures  Vi^ho  delight  in  pleasure:  enemies  to  vital  christian- 
ty  and  holiness,  consequently  diametrically  opposed  to  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  and  to  God  who  dwelleth  in  the  High 
and  Holy  place,  and  saith,  "Be  ye  holy  as  1  am  holy."  Ex- 
>amin€  and  prove  yourselves,  your  immortal  souls  are  at 


22  ON   FAITH. 

stake;  heaven  or  hell  for  a  recompense;  eternal  blisSy  or  eter- 
nal torment.  The  righteous  will  be  most  certainly  received 
into  glory,  to  live  in  great  joy  and  rejoicing  forever;  and  the 
wicked  with  all  the  nations  that  forget  God,  will  as  certainly 
be  turned  into  hell  and  tormented  forever.  It  is  high  time  to 
be  men  in  understanding,  and  resist  the  adversary,  your  old 
ma'^ter,  and  tell  him  you  will  no  longer  submit  to  his  yoke, 
to  be  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water  for  him,  or,  in 
other  words,  that  you  will  no  longer  serve  him,  be  his  slaves, 
or  fulfil  criminal  indulgences,  the  lusts  of  the  flesh  in  va- 
rious ways;  resist  I  repeat;  the  devil  resolutely  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross,  with  full  purpose  of  heart  henceforth  to  serve  the 
true  and  living  God,  and  Satan  shall  flee  from  you,  for 
Christ  hath  spoken  it.  O  that  you  would  become  believing, 
obedient  children.  O  that  you  would  consider  your  latter 
end  ere  it  be  too  late.  Where  would  your  immortal  souls 
be  most  happy  ?  I  presume  you  all  admit  that  you  have 
souls,  or  am  I  addressing  infidels?  there  may  be  some  among 
us,  however,  may  they  by  the  grace  of  God,  be  roused  from 
their  unholy  dreaming  ere  they  awake  in  hell.  Where 
would  your  immortal  souls  be  now,  had  God — do  you  believe 
there  is  a  God,  or  do  I  address  atheists  ?  if  you  believe  in  the 
Divine  Being,  Omniscient,  Omnipresent,  and  Omnipotent, 
why  do  you  dare  to  disobey  his  words  and  dishonor  him,  and 
also  despise  the  inestimable  treasure,  when  properly  cultiva- 
ted, in  your  possession;  that  spark  which  is  to  live  forever, 
either  in  heaven  or  hell;  that  portion  of  the  Deity,  your  im- 
mortal souls — had  God  called  or  would  now  summon  you  to 
give  account  at  his  bar,  had  death  overtaken  or  would  do  so' 
ere  to  morrow's  Sun;  remember  the  time  and  the  seasons  are 
in  J  hovah's  hands;  how  do  you  think  you  w^ould  fare  in  eter- 
nity? would  this  discourse  also  ha v<^  availed  you  nothing;: 
been  as  good  seed  sown  upon  hard,  dry,  and  unpioductive 
ground;  repelled  by  the  adamantine  texture  of  your  hearts; 
or  snatched  away  by  Satan  your  cruel  enemy,  who  hitherto 
held  you  in  bondage  and  slavery,  kept  your  souls  in  darkness. 


ON    FAITH.  23 

deluHing:  you  in  various  ways,  making  you  believe  that  the 
glorious  gospel  scheme  of  Salvation,  through  our  blessed  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  was  all  a  chimera;  and  even  succeeded  in  get- 
ting some  to  believe  there  was  no  God,  no  heaven  to  gain 
nor  hell  to  shun,  and  that  they  had  no  immortal  souls;  level- 
ling them,  on  this  subject,  to  the  brute  creation,  which  neither 
speak  nor  understand.  I  would  fain  caution  you  now  to  put 
you  on  your  guard  foi  the  future;  to  beware  of  his  subtilty; 
he  will  keep  you  in  his  service  forever,  if  you  do  not  out  gen- 
eral him,  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  of  Glo- 
ry, and  take  refuge  in  the  Rock  of  Ages,  and  repel  him  with 
the  christian's  armor,  with  the  shield  of  faith,  the  helmet  of 
hope,  the  breast-piate  of  righteousness,  and  the  sword  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  which  is  also  the  word  of  God.  Be  therefore, 
up  and  doing;  work  out  your  soul's  salvation  with  fear  and 
trembling  while  it  is  day,  ere  the  night  comes  upon  you  and 
ye  will  then  be  unable  so  to  do;  if  you  persevere  in  your  re- 
bellion against  God,  instead  of  warring  in  his  cause,  for  his 
glory  and  also  yours,  as  there  is  none  other  worth  a  straw, 
you  are  liable  to  be  given  over,  (having  exhausted  God's 
mercy  in  your  behalf)  to  hardness  of  heart  and  reprobateness 
of  mind,  and  thus  come  under  the  last  clause  of  our  text. — 
Furthermore,  they  that  have  been  often  reproved  and  stiffen 
their  necks  shall  be  cut  off  suddenly,and  that  without  remedy, 
and  this  may  be  to  all  of  you.  O  self-secure,  drowsy  sinners, 
in  a  few  more  revolving  suns  your  bodies  may  be  buried  bej 
neath  the  clods  of  the  valley,  or  perhaps  some  with  more 
pomp  and  ceremony,  in  some  temple  or  cathedral,  with  a 
tablet  over  your  mortal  remains  to  secure  your  fame  to 
posterity,  to  live  forever  as  the  blind  world  calls  it;  while 
your  immortal  souls  may  be  in  torments  with  the  damned, 
having  been  condemned  at  the  bar  of  Jehovah,  and  dopmed 
to  a  death  that  never,  never  ends.  Now  while  it  is  yet  this 
side  the  grave,  1  would  fain  whisper  it  into  every  one  of 
your  ears,  yea,  and  also  proclaim  it  upon  the,  house  top» 
that  the  only  way  to  live  forever,  is  through  faith  in  Him 


24  ON    FAITH. 

who  saith,  "  1  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  he  that  be. 
heveth  in  mc  though  he  were  dead  yet  shall  he  live,  arid  he 
that  liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die."  May  this 
be  the  portion  of  us  all,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  to 
whom  with  Father  and  Holy  Spirit,  be  all  the  honor,  glory, 
dominion,  majesty  and  power,  now,  henceforth,  and  forever- 
more.    Amen. 


DISCOURSE  II. 

ON  FAITH. 

Faith  Cometh  by  hearings  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God, 
Romans^  \Oth  chapter,,  11  th  verse. 

These  are  the  words  of  the  great  apostle  to  the  Romans, 
a  people  who  had  been,  previous  to  his  mission  among  them, 
in  a  state  of  barbarism,  worshipping  strange  Gods,  birds, 
beasts,  and  creeping  things,  and  thus  indulging  in  gross  idol- 
atries; they  did  notUke  to  retain  the  knowledge  of  the  true 
God  in  their  minds,  and  consequently  were  given  over  by 
the  Ahuighty  to  commit  all  manner  of  filthy  lewdness,  to  the 
abusing  their  bodies  between  one  another;  even  their  women 
left  off  the  natural  way  and  permitted  themselves  to  be  used 
against  nature  and  even  savage  decency,  and  if  you  allow 
me  the  expression,  civilization.  He  also  describes  them  as 
implacably  unmerciful,  full  of  eavy,  hatred,  malice,  murder, 
deceit,  estranged  from  all  natural  affection  and  more  akin  to 
the  beasts,  if  not  below  them,  than  to  say  even  a  moral  state 
of  human  beings;  and  therefore,  without  doubt,  worshippers 
of  devils,  exercising  themselves  in  their  hellish  inventions, 
working  in  the  black  art  with  familiar  spirits,  with  devils, 
and  committing  all  filthy  abominations  with  these  foul  spirits, 
and  consequently  stunk  in  the  nostrils  of  Jehovah,  as  all  have 
done  before  them,  and  will  to  the  end  of  time,  that  are  so 
far  degenerated  and  sunk  beneath  the  decency  of  swine  and 
dogs.  When  a  nation  becomes  thus  degraded,  as  mentioned 
by  our  blessed  Lord  in  his  sermon  on  the  mount,  they  may 
expect  little  else  than  to  be  speedily  judged  from  on  high, 
and  that  a  holy  God  will  avenge  himself  of  such  filthy,  dis- 
gusting creatures,  and  cleanse  his  nostrils  of  the  stink;  he 
had  done  it  in  many  instances  before,  and  even  the  people 
whom  he  chose  to  put  iiis  name  upon  did  not  escape  his 


26  ON  FAITH. 

judgments  and  avenging  rod.  He  bears  an  inveterate  ha- 
tred ngaiiist  all  that  live  in  such  abominable  filthiness,  even 
individually,  and  how  much  more  w^hen  a  nation  disregards 
his  smiles  and  frowns,  and  in  all  their  proceedings  think  to 
vex  him,  and  to  stink  more  and  more  in  his  nostrils.  Verily 
their  career  is  hastening  to  a  speedy  close,  their  days  are 
numbered,  their  destruction  is  hastening  on  apace,  and  as 
holy  David  says,  "They  are  turned  into  hell."  And  so  it  was 
also  with  this  nation,  he  brought  their  pride  down  to  the 
dung  heap,  and  what  are  they  now  as  a  nation  ?  only  for 
people  resorting  thither  from  other  nations,  they  would  be  un- 
able to  get  a  temporal  livelihood. 

Thus  the  Omniscient  eye  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  dodges 
after  the  ways  of  the  wicked,  and  his  Omnipotent  arm  strikes 
them  to  the  ground.  He  is  a  God  jealous  of  his  own  glory, 
and  will  never  give  up  the  earth  to  the  devil,  as  some  may 
vainly  imagine,  but  will  always  have  a  holy  nation  of  Kings 
and  Priests,  among  all  nations  of  the  earth,  a  peculiar  people 
whom  he  delights  to  honor : — 

"He  looks  'mid  circumvolving  spheres, 

Complaisant  on  his  ransom'd  heirs, 
More  dear  than  all  his  works  beside, 

Blest  souls  for  whom  the  Saviour  died." 

Yea  verily,  God  does  in  his  saints  delight;  they  are  the  ap- 
ple of  his  eye,  and  as  trees  planted  by  the  rivers  of  waters? 
bringing  forth  fruit  of  a  sweet  savour;  their  leaves  also  shall 
not  wither,  and  they  shall  flourish  as  the  rose  and  the  lilly 
under  the  light  of  his  countenance.  "  The  ungodly  are  not 
so,  but  are  like  the  chaff  which  the  wind  driveth  away." — 
'  Therefore  tha  ungodly  shall  not  stand  in  the  judgment,  nor 
sinners  in  the  congregation  of  the  righteous."  "  For  the 
Lord  knoweth  the  way  of  the  righteous,  but  the  way  of  the 
ungodly  shall  perish." 

I  have  been  thus  lengthy  descanting  on  the  prevailing  sins 
of  the  Romans,  and  for  which  also  other  nations  were  anni- 
hilated, because  I  am  among  creatures  of  similar  dispositions, 


ON   FAITH.  27 

a  nation  of  evil-doers,  which  do  away  from  before  their  eyes 
the  fear  of  the  Holy  and  Omnipotent  God,  and  revel  in 
abominations  similar  to  their  brethren,  the  Romans  and  oth- 
ers, and  like  them  glory  in  their  shame;  therefore  ]  am  con- 
strained, yea  I  am  enjoined  by  my  blessed  master,  the  worthy 
Judge  Eternal,  to  warn  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
"  Spare  not,  but  cry  aloud,  show  the  people  their  transgres- 
sions, and  the  house  of  Israel  their  sins."  Son  of  man. — 
"These  men  have  set  up  tiieir  idols  in  their  heart,  and  put 
the  stumbling  block  of  their  iniquity  before  their  face;  should 
1  be  enquired  of  at  all  by  them?"  Therefore  thus  saith  the 
Lord  God,  "  Repent  and  turn  yourselves  from  your  idols, 
and  turn  away  your  faces  from  all  your  abominations." 
"  For  every  one  which  separateth  himself  from  me,  and  set, 
teth  up  his  idols  in  his  heart,  and  putteth  the  stumbling-block 
of  iniquity  before  his  face,  I  will  set  my  face  against  that 
man,  and  will  make  him  a  sign  and  a  proverb,  and  1  will  cut 
him  off  from  the  midst  of  my  people,  and  ye  shall  know  that 
I  am  the  Lord."  Son  of  man.  "  When  the  land  sinneth 
against  me  by  tresspassing  grievously,  then  will  1  stretch  out 
my  hand  upon  it,  and  I  will  break  the  stafifof  bread  thereof,  and 
and  will  send  famine  ufjonit  and  cut  off  man  and  beast  from  it; 
and  if  I  brin^:  a  sword  upon  that  land  and  say,sword  go  through 
the  land,  so  that  I  cut  off  man  and  beast  from  it;  or  if  I  send 
a  pestilence  into  that  land  and  pour  out  my  fury  upon  it  in 
blood,  to  cut  off  man  and  beast,  though  Noah,  Daniel  and 
Job  were  in  it,  as  I  live  saith  the  Lord  God,  they  shall  deliver 
neither  son  nor  daughter;  they  shall  but  deliver  their  own 
souls  by  their  righteousness."  [Read  Ezekiel,  14th  chap. 
O  how  odius,  abominable  and  disgusting  a  people  can  be- 
come to  a  holy  God,  an  utter  abhorrence,  and  as  dung  in  his 
sight;  so  much  so  that  in  their  general  destruction  his  own 
people  are  not  always,  through  his  mercy,  spared  from  falling 
in  the  overthrow,  and  should  they  even  be  as  holy  as  JNoah» 
Daniel  and  Job,  yet  however,  their  souls  will  be  safe — will 
be  received  into  glory. 


28  ON  FAITH. 

Faith  Cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of 
God  ;  which,  by  him  was  put  into  the  mouths  of  his  proph 
ets,  apostles  and  true  ambassadors,  and  they  spake  as  they 
were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  words  are  now 
printed  in  a  book  which  w^e  call  a  "  Bible,"  so  that  every 
one  that  can  read  may  discover  his  duty  to  himself,  to  the 
nation  he  belongs,  to  the  whole  human  family,  and  above 
all  to  his  God  ;  or  however,  He  who  ought  to  be  his  God ; 
the  God  that  governs  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  who  sits  in 
the  high  and  holy  place,  and  sees  all  that  passes  in  the  uni- 
verse. And  they  that  cannot  read  may  hear  others  read, 
and  thus  likewise,  be  informed  of  their  duty;  and  all  may 
have  frequent  opportunity  to  hear  a  true  messenger,  a  holy 
man  of  God,  sent  to  deliver  his  words  to  rebellious  sinners. 
I  must  however  confess,  that  there  are  very  few  of  this  pre- 
cious sort  now  abroad  ;  those  that  officiate  in  the  sanctuary, 
have  nearly,  if  not  all,  sunk  in  the  general  degradation,  and 
have  their  delight  in  the  prevailing  abomination,  and  there- 
fore, 1  have  also  a  message  to  them. 

"  Son  of  man,  prophecy  against  the  prophets  of  Israel  that 
prophecy  out  of  their  own  hearts,  hear  ye  the  word  of  the 
Lord:  "Wo  unto  the  foolish  prophets,  they  are  like  the  foxes 
in  the  desert;  they  have  not  gone  up  into  the  gaps,  neither 
made  up  the  hedge  for  the  house  of  Israel,  to  stand  in  the 
battle  in  the  day  of  the  Lord.  They  have  seen  vanity  and 
lying  divinations,  and  they  have  made  othei-s  to  hope  that 
they  would  confirm  the  word."  Therefore,  thus  saith  the 
Lord  God,  "  Because  ye  have  spoken  vanity,  and  seen  lies, 
therefore,  behold,  I  am  against  you,  saith  the  Lord  God ; 
and  my  hand  shall  be  upon  the  prophets  that  see  vanity,  and 
that  divine  lies:  they  shall  not  be  in  the  assembly  of  my 
people,  neither  shall  they  be  written  in  the  writing  of  the 
house  of  Israel,  (the  lambs  book  of  life,)  neither  shall  they 
enter  into  the  land  of  Israel,  (the  Paradise  above,)  and  ye 
shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord  God."  "  Because,  even  be- 
cause they  have  seduced   my  people,  saying;  peace,  and 


ON  FAITH.  29 

there  was  no  peace;  building  up  walls  and  daubing  them  with 
untenipered  mortar;  say  unto  them  which  daub  it  with  un- 
tempered  mortar,  it  shall  fall ;  so  will  1  break  down  the  wall 
that  ye  have  daubed  with  untempered  mortar,  and  bring  it 
down  to  the  ground,  so  that  the  foundation  thereof  shall  be 
discovered,  and  it  shall  fall,  and  ye  shall  be  consumed  in  the 
midst  thereof;  and  ye  shall  know  that  1  am  the  Lord.  Thus 
will  1  accomplish  my  wrath  upon  the  wall,  and  upon  them 
that  have  daubed  it  with  untempered  mortar,  and  will  say 
unto  you,  the  wall  is  no  more,  neither  they  that  daubed  it." 

Thus  will  the  Lord  God  avenge  himself  of  his  filthy  ene- 
mies, which  have  become  stink  in  his  nostrils,  and  that  go 
about  glorying  in  their  shame,  when  they  ought  to  tremble 
and  quake  and  hide  their  dinnnislied  heads.  "  Enter  into 
the  rock,  and  hide  thee  in  the  dust,  for  fear  of  the  Lord,  and 
for  the  glory  of  his  majesty."  Yea,  they  ought  ever  to  be 
ashamed  before  the  Angels  and  Saints  of  Heaven,  if  they 
are  not  so  of  those  on  earth, — because  they  are  so  very,  very 
few — in  consequence  of  their  misdoing  in  not  watching  over 
the  souls  of  those  over  whom  they  preside  or  presided,  until 
the  devil  made  them  confirmed  children  of  hell ;  now  they 
can  partake  of  their  sins,  work  their  filthy  abominations 
together,  and  go  in  and  out  among  their  swinish  brethren ; 
vide  sermon  on  the  mount — and  say  the  Lord  is  such  a  one 
as  I  am:  thus  with  one  accord  trample  the  precious  and 
holy  blood  of  Christ  under  their  feet,  and  make  his  words  of 
no  effect ;  and  if  ever  they  were  converted  unto  God,  through 
the  blood  of  our  blessed  High  Priest,  and  ordained  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  preach  the  gospel,  they  cannot  possibly  be 
so  now — as  the}  do  not  walk  with  him,  nor  seek  to  please 
and  honor  him,  nor  strive  to  save  their  souls,  nor  those  of 
their  fellow  men.  They  draw  nigh  to  God  with  their  lips, 
while  their  hearts  are  far  from  him  ;  and  unless  they  become 
converted,  their  faith  becomes  a  living  faith  in  Jesus,  and 
their  righteousness  exceeds  that  of  the  Scribes  and  Phara- 
sees:  they  shall  never  enter  into  Jehovah's  kingdom ;  into  his 
rest ;  into  the  home  of  the  saints. 


30  ON  FAITH. 

There  may,  however,  be  exceptions  to  the  general  de- 
generacy of  those  that  work  among  the  holy  things,  but 
where  they  are,  God  knows,  1  do  not.  Yea,  verily,  God 
knows  and  standeth  for  his  people  who  boldly  fight  un- 
der the  banner  of  Jesus,  the  captain  of  our  salvation; 
through  him  we  shall  overcome  and  bear  off  the  prize. 
He  it  is  who  treadeth  down  our  enemies,  although  they 
be  as  the  sand  of  the  sea,  innumerable.  Church,  so  cal- 
led; no  church  out  of  Christ;  in  him  is  the  true  church, 
whose  head  he  is — church  and  state  fighting  against  us,  by 
consequence  fight  against  Christ,  against  God,  the  sovereign 
creator  and  ruler  of  the  universe;  they  cannot  and  shall  not 
endure  when  he  speedily  arises  to  shake  terribly  the  earth. 
"  The  lofty  looks  of  man  shall  be  humbled,  and  the  haughti- 
ness of  man  shall  be  bowed  down,  and  the  Lord  alone  shall 
be  exalted  in  that  day."  "In  that  day  shall  the  branch  of 
the  Lord  be  beautiful  and  glorious,  and  the  fruit  of  the  earth 
shall  be  excellent  and  comely  lor  them  that  are  escaped  of 
Israel."  Yea,  shall  the  Lord  not  arise  to  greater  judgment 
and  avenge  himself  of  a  nation  like  this?  O  ye  get:eration 
of  vipers,  flee,  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come;  repent  ye,  repent 
of  your  sins  and  abominations,  do  away  the  evil  from  before 
the  holy  eyes  of  the  Lord;  hear  the  words  of  life,  *'confess 
your  sins  with  your  mouth  and  believe  in  your  heart  unto 
righteousness,"  even  the  righteousness  of  Jesus,  that  ye  may 
be  able  to  stand  in  the  judgment  with  the  saints  of  God  and 
the  Lamb. 

As  a  nation  hear  ye  the  words  of  the  Lord,  not  in  vain  but 
to  invite  you  to  immediate  action,  the  case  will  admit  of  no 
delay — as  also  Ninevah  heard  and  believed  the  words  of  Jo- 
nah, and  consequently  immediately  repented  in  sackcloth 
and  ashes,  and  the  judgments  of  Jehovah  were  arrested,  go 
ye  speedily  and  do  likewise,  that  haply  his  judgments  be 
stayed  and  ye  perish  not  in  the  gainsaying  of  Core;  and  be- 
come an  example  to  the  rest  of  the  world,  like  unto  Sodam 
and  Gomorrah.     "  Wo  unto  them  that  call  evil  good  and 


ON  FAITH.  31 

good  evil ;  that  put  darkness  for  light  and  light  for  darkness; 
that  put  bitter  for  sweet  and  sweet  for  bitter;  which  justify 
the  wicked  for  a  reward,  and  take  away  the  righteousness  of 
the  righteous  from  him,"  therefore,  "as  the  fire  devoureth  the 
stubble,  and  the  flame  consumeth  the  chaff,  so  their  root 
shall  be  rottenness,  and  their  blossom  shall  go  up  as  dust; 
because  they  have  cast  away  the  law  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
and  despised  the  word  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel." 

These  are  terrible  denunciations,  even  to  individual  sinners, 
but  when  a  nation  becomes  degraded  in  wickedness,  wise  in 
their  own  conceit,  proud,  vain  boasters,  and  exalt  themselves 
even  to  the  very  vault  of  heaven,  and  boast  that  through  the 
power  which  they  act,  (the  devil's,)  they  would  pluck  even 
God  himself  from  his  throne,  if  they  could;  it  is  something 
that  they  recollect  themselves  a  little  and  make  this  proviso. 
Yes  verily,  but  you  will  not  succeed;  you  have  seen  lying 
visions  and  they  shall  avail  you  nothing;  but  I  say  if  ye  will 
not  repent,  but  become  more  filthy  and  stiff-necked,  then  like 
serpents  "hide  yourselves  in  the  clefts  of  the  rocks  and  in 
the  tops  of  the  rugged  rocks,  for  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  for 
the  glory  of  his  majesty,  when  he  arises  to  shake  terribly 
the  earth."  Probably  ye  might  thus  escape  so  as  to  live  on 
the  earth  although  dead,  a  little  while  longer,  and  kno'o  good 
between  one  another;  (even  good  which  ye  esteem  preferable 
to  that  from  above;)  but  surely  at  the  general  destruction  on 
the  last  day,  when  worlds  shall  be  crushed  and  hurled  to 
atoms;  nations  be  destroyed;  churches  obliterated;  the  earth 
in  a  conflagration,  and  the  very  heavens  passing  away,  rolled 
together  as  a  scroll;  ye  cannot  escape  by  hiding  in  the  dens 
and  caverns  of  the  rocks  and  calling  on  the  mountains  to  fall 
upon  you.  No!  my  hearers,  there  are  but  few  clefts  that  will 
then  avail,  and  those  only  who  were  wise  and  sought  shelter 
there  betimes;  these  are  the  clefts  of  the  Rock  of  Ages.  He, 
the  ever  blessed  Jesus,  will  himself  preside  as  judge,  therefore 
we  who  heard  and  believe  his  words  to  do  them,  to  the  sa- 
ving of  our  souls,  to  the  being  found  in  him,  through  faith 


32  ON  FAITH. 

which  worketh  by  love,  shall  live  with  our  blessed  Father 
and  King,  God  and  Saviour,  and  the  holy  angels,  in  the  new 
heaven  and  earth  forever  and  ever.  And  you  who  would 
have  none  of  his  holiness,  from  whom  cometh  every  good 
and  perfect  gift,  the  blessedness  of  heaven  on  earth,  with  a 
certain  promise  of  a  final  heaven  through  all  eternity,  but 
would  have  your  good,  as  you  esteemed  it,  among  yourselves 
and  the  devils,  you  shall  also  now  be  cast  into  the  lake  which 
burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone,  where  there  shall  be  weep- 
ing and  waihng  and  gnashing  of  teeth,  prepared  for  the  dev- 
il, your  father,  and  his  angels,  your  brethren,  and  ye  shall  be 
tormented  through  the  endless  ages  of  eternity. 

Now  that  you  are  yet  this  side  of  that  gulph  of  despair, 
and  as  a  nation,  have  your  heads  above  water,  (or  brimstone,) 
humble  yourselves  therefore,  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God  ? 
the  words  of  Christ,  which  shall  judge  every  one  of  you 
on  the  last  day.  1  address  you  individually  and  collec- 
tiyely —  1  say  again,  have  faith  in  Christ  and  his  words,  to 
do  them,  to  the  saving  of  your  souls;  have  faith  and  lay  hold 
on  the  Omnipotent  Arm  of  Jehovah  and  make  your  peace 
with  him.  Let  every  one  of  you  consider  and  weigh  this 
matter  seriously,  and  then  conclude  whether  ye  had  not 
better  repent,  believe  the  gospel  and  live  holy  and  godly  lives. 
The  domgs  of  every  one  of  you  contribute  to  make  up  the 
sum  total  of  this  nation,  whether  of  righteousness  or  wicked- 
ness; righteousness  exalteth  a  nation,  but  wickedness  and 
iniquity  degradeth  it,  and  is  the  cause  of  every  evil  and  des- 
truction at  last.  And  therefore,  why  continue  in  this  dread- 
ful course  of  rebellion  ?  why  not  much  rather  repent  one  and 
all,  and  be  at  peace  with  an  offended  God;  and  should  you 
even  hold  out  as  a  nation  a  few  years  longer,  hear  the 
words  and  believe,  "  It  is  given  unto  all  men  once  to  die  and 
after  that  the  judgment."  I  refer  you  to  what  has  been  stated 
on  this  subject.  Therefore  you  may  put  away  the  thoughts 
of  death  whenever  they  trouble  and  frighten  you,  but  surely 
when  the  messenger  himself  arrives  you  cannot  compromise 


ON  FAITH.  33 

with  him;  you  cannot  put  him  off  until  some  convenient 
timr;  do  ye  not  see  clearly  ye  are  dying  mortals,  liable  to  be 
turned  to  dust  every  moment,  as  your  hvesarr^  in  the  hands 
of  an  angry  God;  and  hear  this,  "the  wicked  shall  not  live  out 
half  their  days;"  and  "the  Lord  will  avenge  him  of  his  ene- 
mies." His  honor  must  be  vindicated,  his  justice  satisfied, 
and  his  name  glorified.  1  impress  it  on  you  again  to  repent, 
believe  the  gospel,  live  holy  lives;  if  ye  value  your  s'>uls  re- 
pent; if  you  value  your  wives  and  children  or  any  thing  else 
according  to  Godliness,  repent;  if  you  value  this  land,  the  in- 
stitution- thereof,  and  (his  nation,  repent;  and  above  all  if 
ye  value  the  joys  of  heaven,  repent  and  believe  the  gospel, 
"for  there  is  more  joy  in  heaven  among  the  holy  angels  of 
God  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth  than  over  ninety  and  nine 
just  made  perfect."  And  will  ye  not  do  something  for  the 
joy  of  others,  particularly  such  lovely  beings,  and  at  the  same 
time  be  bsnefited  so  greatly  yourselves,  be  sucli  infinite  gain- 
ers as  to  b'^  reinstated  to  the  Rivor  and  exalted  to  the  holy 
imdge  of  our  blessed  Jehovah;  and  then  the  sweet  peace  which 
ye  shall  have  which  passeth  all  understanding,  which  the 
world  cannot  give  nor  take  away,  and  which  shall  endure 
and  increase  in  heaven  forever  more. 

If  ye  thus  turn  unto  God  through  faith  in  our  blessed  Sa- 
viour Jesus  Christ,  and  put  on  the  new  man  of  holiness, 
show  respect  and  reverence  to  the  Deity,  he  will  return  unto 
you  and  honor  you,  and  "set  you  on  high  because  ye  know 
his  name;"  and  ye  shall  have  trus  peace,  joy,  and  happiness, 
for  out  of  God  it  is  not  to  be  found;  this  I  know  by  experience^ 
and  many  holy  men  have  testified  to  the  same  before  me, 
even  Solomon,  the  wisest  of  men,  after  having  indulged  him- 
self in  the  pleasures  of  the  table,  wine  and  women,  horses 
and  chariots,  building  of  cities,  and  many  other  things  to  di- 
veit  the  mind;  ]  say,  after  havmg  experimented  upon,  and 
proved  the  efficacy  of  almost  every  thing  under  the  Sun  to 
aid  the  increase  ot  his  happiness,  he  returns  to  God  and 
declares,  that  all  that  is  contrary  to  a  hfe  of  godliness  is  but 

5 


34  ON  FAITH. 

vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit,  and  that  to  '•'  Fear  God  and 
keep  his  commandments,  is  the  whole  duty  of  man."  "  Kor 
God  shall  bring  every  work  into  judgment  with  every  secret 
thing,  whether  it  be  good  or  whether  it  be  evil."  [Excles'. 
last  chapter  ]  And  since  then,  my  dear  readers,  how  many 
individuals,  how  many  hundreds  of  persons  that  have  lived 
in  sin  and  iniquity,  have  sought  in  a  career  of  criminal  in- 
dulgences, peace  and  comfort  for  their  poor  souls,  but  that 
were  never  able  to  obtani  rest  for  their  troubled  Fpirits,  until 
they  found  it  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  until  through  the  atone- 
ment of  Jesus,  through  faith  in  the  Lamb  of  God  and  his 
blood,  they  were  purified  from  all  "fillhniess  of  flesi)  and 
spirit;"  were  born  again,  renovated  and  thoroughly  regener- 
ated, enabled  to  lay  oft"  the  old  man  of  sm,  and  put  on  the 
new  man  of  righteousness  and  holiness;  became  froeiy  jus- 
tified and  sanctified  through  faith  in  Him  who,  through  His 
boundless  love  to  degraded  man,  became  emphatically  the 
propitiation  for  the  sms  of  the  world,  that  the  blessed  God 
*'-might  be  just  and  the  jusliher  of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus." 
Thus  thousands  were  through  the  forbearance,  goodness  and 
mercy  of  God,  and  through  our  blessed  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ, 
reinstated  to  favor  and  the  holy  Image  of  our  tieavenly 
Father,  became  sons  by  adoption,  and  heirs  of  glory;  even 
joint  heirs  with  Christ  himself  of  inheritances  incorruptible? 
undefiled,  and  that  never,  no  never  fade  away;  eternal  in  the 
heavens.  Thus  these  peculiar,  excentric,  as  the  blind  world 
calls  christians,  people  were  endued  from  on  high  with  the 
blessings  of  salvation;  love,  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
that  peace  that  passeth  all  understanding,  which  is  not  to 
be  found  in  the  world;  which  the  carnal  man  is  a  stranger  to, 
and  which  confounds  the  worldly-wise  in  their  wisdom,  and 
the  fools  in  their  vain  imaginations,  particularly  those  who 
say  in  their  hearts  '*There  is  no  God." 

These  holy  champions  of  the  cross,  comprising  a  holy  na- 
tion, within  maiiy  nations;  a  royal  priesthood,  zealous  of 
good  works,  to  glorify  God  their  Saviour  and  King,  and  to 


ON  FAITH.  35 

benefit  their  fellow  beings  sojourning  in  tins  vale  of  tears,  on 
the  brink  of  eternity.  They  were  therefore,  emphatically 
the  salt  of  the  earth,  the  excellent  of  the  earth,  the  lights  of 
the  world,  and  in  their  glory  was  manifest  the  image  of  Je- 
hovah, and  the  world  could  take  knowledge  that  they  had 
been  with  Jesus,  for  none  can  impart  wit;dom  and  every 
grace  like  He,  neither  did  they  love  their  lives,  but  rather 
hated  them  for  Christ's  sake,  so  that  they  might  keep  them 
throu^,hout  the  endless  ages  of  eternity. 

They  were  decided  heroes  under  the  Lord  of  Hosts — 
uncomprom'sii)g  patriots  for  the  truth,  who  nobly  stood  in 
the  most  exalted  cause  and  fought  manfully  under  the  ban- 
ner of  their  King;  permitted  their  blood  to  flow  in  purple 
streams  for  His  glory,  and  the  cause  of  truth,  and  their  fellow 
beings'  eternal  welfare,  and  to  confound  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness and  hell;  they  could  depart  rejoicing,  aud  some  could 
triumphantly  sing  in  the  heat  of  the  battle,  with  the  apostle 
could  say,  "for  them  to  live  was  Christ,  and  to  die  was  gain," 
and  that  they  would  rather  be  absent  from  the  body  and 
present  with  the  Lord,  they  being  filled  with  the  blessedness 
of  heaven,  could  contribute  to  the  glory  of  their  Maker  and 
Saviour,  and  the  establishment  of  the  true  Church  of  Christ, 
vital  Christianity  upon  the  earth;  and  to  depart  like  men  and 
not  as  fools  die. 

All  ages  have  been  thus  blessed  by  the  Most  High,  have 
had  some  of  these  constellations  sojourning  among  them,  to 
illuminate  the  dark  places  of  the  earth;  who  in  the  wisdom 
and  love  of  God  through  the  salvation  of  Jesus,  were  as  lights, 
as  beacons  to  the  wayfaring  man,  to  the  wanderers  out  of 
Sion,  to  direct  their  steps  into  the  path  of  holiness  by  urging 
them  to  repentance  and  admonishing  them  to  believe  in  Jesus 
for  the  saUation  of  their  immortal  souls.  Consequently  the 
true  church,  the  church  of  Christ,  flourished  to  a  greater  or 
less  degree  during  every  period  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,  and  the  blessed  Lord  had  a  people  with  whom  his 
honor  dwelled,  with  whom  his  name  abided;  who  were  a  joy. 


S6  ON  FAITH. 

a  praise,  and  a  ^lory  to  Him,  and  contributed  to  the  joy  of 
the  holy  hosts  of  heaven;  the  glorious  angels  are  not  ashamed 
to  own  the  followers  of  Christ  as  their  brethren,  nor  think 
tliemselves  degtaded  by  administering  unto  us,  accoiding  to 
the  will  and  commands  of  our  Heavenly  Father.  "  Are 
they  not  all  ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them 
who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation."  [Heb.  L   14. 

Faith  Cometh  by  hearing  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God, 
therefore  as  for  tiiose  that  sit  in  "  Moses^  seat,"  their  words 
are  to  be  believed  and  examples  imitated  so  far  as  they 
agsee  with  the  revealed  will  of  God,  w^ith  the  "word  and 
the  testimony,"  and  they  in  righteousness  and  holiness  fol- 
low Christ.  As  St.  Paul  admonishes,  "Be  ye  followers  of 
me  as  I  am  also  of  Christ;"  and  also  cautions  Timothy  to 
bew  are  of  men  in  sheep's  clothing,  wdiich  should  abound  in 
the  latter  days;  his  admonitory  lessons  are  on  this  wise,  "Now 
the  spirit  speaketh  expressly,  that  in  the  latter  times  some 
shall  depart  Irom  the  faith,  giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits? 
and  doctrin'^^s  of  devils;  speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy,  having 
their  conscience  seared  with  an  hot  iron."  And  further, 
"This  know  also,  that  in  the  last  days  perilous  times  shall 
come.  For  men  shall  be  lovers  of  their  ownselves,  covet- 
ous, boasters,  proud,  blasphemers,  disobedient  to  parents, 
untiiankful,  unholy,  without  natural  affection,  truce-breakers, 
fal&e  accusers,  incontinent,  fierce,  despisers  of  those  that  are 
good,  traitors,  heady,  high-minded,  lovers  of  pleasure  more 
jthan  lovers  of  God;  having  a  form  cf  godliness,  but  denying 
the  power  thereof;  from  such  turn  away." 

[1st.  &  2d.  Timothy. 

After  all  this  estrangement  and  departure  from  the  living 
God,  yet  at  the  coming  of  the  blessed  Christ  "will  he  find  faith 
on  the  earth."  However  small  the  number  may  be,  yet 
there  will  be  some  who  will  be  the  holy  temples  of  Christ 
and  watch  unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord  and  desire  the  King 
of  heaven  and  earth  to  descend;  "  Even  so  come  Lord  Jesus." 
Do  not  these  times  indicate  that  the  period  is  near  at  hand, 


ON  FAITH.  37 

when  all  the  wicked  shall  be  destroyed  from  the  face  of  the 
earth,  and  "all  the  nations  that  forget  God  be  turned  into 
hell."  Kepent,  repent,  repent,  therefore,  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand;  repent  and  have  faith  in  Jesus;  hear  the 
words  of  the  Lord  to  your  edification  and  immortal  souls  sal- 
vation; manifest  your  love  and  obedience  by  keeping  the 
commandments  of  God,  and  walking  with  him  unbiameably, 
in  holiness;  for  without  holiness  none  shall  ever  behold  his 
glorious  majesty,  or  enter  into  his  eternal  kingdom  of  glory. 
iVJay  many  yet  in  the  eleventh  hour,  find  remission  of  sins 
through  the  merits  of  Jesus;  be  justified  and  sanctified  by  the 
blessed  God;  through  the  Holy  Ghost,  become  meet  to  be 
made  partakers  of  the  inheritances  of  the  Saints  in  light,  and 
to  have  th  ir  joy  and  rejoicing  with  God  and  his  holy  angels 
forevermore.  Now  unto  the  Triune  Father,  be  endless 
praise,  thanks  and  blessings,  dominion,  majesty  and  power. 
Amen  and  A  men. 


Di8corR8i:  III. 

THE  GLORY  OF  GOD. 

Father^  glorify  thy  name.     Then  came  there  a  voice  from 

heaven^  sayings  I  have  both  glorified  it,  and  will  glorify  it 

again. 

John,  12M  Chap.  2Qth  verse. 

The  preceding  words  of  our  text  our  bles-ed  Lora  spake 
some  time  after  his  ministry,  soon  after  Mary  anointed  his 
feet,  and  his  triumphant  entry  into  Jerusalem,  welcomed  and 
escorted  by  hosts  of  his  saints  and  followers,  who  spread 
their  garments  in  the  way,  crying  Hosanna!  Hosanna'.I — 
Blessed  is  the  Kins^  of  Israel  that  comcth  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.     Glory  to  God  in  the  highest. 

Aware  of  being  near  the  end  of  his  mission,  when  the 
great  object  should  be  accomplished  for  which  our  blessed 
Lord  was  made  manifest  in  the  flesh,  suffered  shame,  per- 
secution and  distress,  a  man  of  sorrow  and  acquainted  with 
grief,  who  had  committed  no  sin,  neither  was  guile  found  in 
his  mouth,  but  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  sin- 
ful men,  had  left  his  high  and  glorious  abode  to  sojourn  on 
this  distorted  earlhly  ball,  subject  to  iieat  and  cold,  earth- 
quakes, storms  and  tempests, with  no  certain  dwelling  place 
here  below,  and  no  place  where  to  lay  his  devoted  head; 
hear  himself  on  the  subject:  "The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the 
birds  of  the  air  have  nests,  but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not 
where  to  lay  his  head."  Which  deprivation  he  endured 
without  a  murmur,  although  his  sou!  was  frequently  in 
trouble,  as  we  see  in  the  preceding  verse  and  elsewhere,  for 
God  had  laid  upon  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world  to  the  end  of  time,  that  none  might  be  lost, 
but  that  all  might  obtain  a  knowledge  of  salvation  through 
bis  obedience. 


THE  GLORY  OF  GOD.  39 

While  the  Eternal  Father  was  looking  abroad  upon  the 
sons  of  njen,  and  unable  to  discover  any  o.ie  with  whom  to 
entrust  this  mighty  work  of  redemption,  lo!  the  Saviour 
said,  "I  come  to  do  thy  will,  O  God;"  and  in  due  time 
through  the  wisdom  of  the  all-wise  and  ever  blessed  God, 
became  incarnate,  when  the  sons  of  light  again  shouted  for 
joy  and  sang  "  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  on  earth  peace 
and  to  men  good  will."  And  he  grew  up  in  wisdom  and 
stafure,  and  became  emphatically  the  Prince  of  Peace  and 
the  Saviour  of  the  wojld.  For  at  the  age  of  twelve  he  began 
to  persuade  men  to  leave  their  folly  and  endeavored  to  turn 
the  ignorant  to  the  wisdom  of  tiie  just. 

Behold  him  with  his  holy  band  of  twelve  devoted  cham- 
pions, traversing  deserts  and  through  forests,  wandering  to 
reclaim  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel  and  collect  them 
into  his  lold  ;  and  when  thousands  upon  ihousa.ids  were 
gathered  together  to  hear  his  Angehc  voice  in  strains  celes- 
tial meander  through  the  dense  multitude  in  sweetest  ac- 
cents of  love  and  sympathy  for  the  weal  of  lh(^-ir  immortal 
souls;  and  then  when  ihe  blind,  through  his  vntue,  received 
their  sight,  the  broken  and  lame  were  made  whole,  the  deaf 
restoied,  the  devils  cast  out,  and  the  sick  healed,  the  toils  of 
several  days  ministraiion  nearly  over,  lie  commanded  the 
fatigued  multitu(*e  to  be  seated  in  companies  upon  the  green 
grass,  he  took  a  few  loaves  and  two  fishes,  blessed  and 
brake  and  had  them  distributed  through  this  vast  congre- 
gation, miraculously  multiplying  it  uniil  all  were  filled  and 
baskets  full  of  fragments  remained;  many  were  roiivii»ced 
of  their  unbelief,  and  constrained  to  exclaim,  "  Emmanuel, 
God  with  us," 

Thus  the  Lord  of  life  and  gloiy  went  abroad  doing  good 
and  ministering  unto  dying  men,  in  a  humihtating  way,  as 
a  servant  among  servants.  O  boundless  love!  O  the  depth 
both  of  the  rtches  and  grace  of  God,  his  ways  are  past  find- 
ing out.  Truly  he  is  every  where  in  his  glory,  through 
heaven,  air,  earth  and  oceans  all,  and  when  the  tempest 


40  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD. 

hovv!s  and  the  sea  loars,  threatening  death  and  destruction 
to  puny  man,  vvilh  the  few  words,  "peace,  be  still,"  he  siayS 
the  storm  and  cahns  the  sea;  the  winds  steal  away  and  the 
waves  which  raged  furiously,  croucit  beneath  his  ft  et,  and  all 
is  still.  7'he  same  he  efifects  in  the  repenting  sinner  against 
the  devil's  work  in  his  soid,  when  he  foams  and  rages  furi- 
ously, he  casts  him  out  and  a  sweet  calm  ensues,  with  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory,  with  thanks  and  blessings  to 
God  the  Prince  of  Peace.  Thus  the  works  of  the  devil  are 
destroyed  and  the  Lord  God  is  glorified. 

The  whole  career  of  our  blessed  Saviour  on  earth  re- 
dounded to  the  gloiy  of  his  heavenly  Father  and  the  welfare 
of  human  kij.d  and  also  to  the  brute  creation,  for  as  men  be- 
come civilized,  truly  refined  and  exalted  in  holiness,  they 
are  more  merciful,  because  the  blessed  Christ  incuh  ates 
mercy,  ''be  ye  merciful  as  your  F'ather  in  heaven  is  merci- 
ful;' by  consequence  every  living  thing  about  a  true  christian 
will  fare  the  better,  and  thaiiks  be  to  the  Lord  for  it;  for 
where  is  the  difference  between  savages,  and  even  some  mis- 
called cfiri>.tians,  and  the  wild  beasts,  unless  it  be  on  the  side 
of  the  latter,  who  scarcely  ever  destroy  one  another  until 
compelled  by  hunger.  But  not  so  with  those  whose  hearis  are 
tlie  habitation  of  devils,  even  legions  of  foul  spirits,  thirsting 
for  blood,  whose  cravings  are  never  satisfied,  tormenting  and 
inventing  torments  for  their  fellow  beings  that  are  not  of  their 
abonjinable  caste  ;  even  their  accomplices  are  not  permitted 
to  escape,  but  they  tear  each  other  as  dog?,  with  hellish 
malice  full;  and  then  the  iiinocent  brutes  will,  at  times,  be 
made  partakers  of  their  cruel  mercies;  surely  there  is  no 
peace  for  the  wicked,  as  declared  m  holy  writ.  They  know 
not  the  Prince  of  Peace  who  dwells  in  the  sons  of  light,  and 
causes  all  things  to  contribute  to  their  happiness  for  time  and 
eternity;  but  are  full  of  the  evil  one,  whom  Christ  came  to 
biuise  and  destroy,  and  whom  he  bound  in  chains  until  the 

11  >f  the  great  day,  when  the  wrath  of  God  will  be 
revealed  against  him  and  his  ungodly  followers  to  doom 


THE  GLORY  OF  GOD.  41 

them  to  misery  and  torments,  to  blackness  and  darkness 
forever. 

As  the  ambassador  of  the  high  and  holy  God,  I  call  upon 
you  through  these  pages,  to  make  your  peace  with  him  ;  to 
be  reconciled  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  through  faith  in  Jesus 
and  his  precious  blood,  which  cleanses  from  all  sin,  and 
which  is  yet  offered  as  a  purifier  of  the  affections  and  lusts 
of  the  flesh;  all  vile,  unholy  propensities  ever  at  variance 
with  godliness,  and  the  life  of  God  in  the  soul,  for  the  carnal 
muid  is  at  enmity  with  God,  therefore  cast  ye  out  this  bond- 
man with  all  his  filthiness  and  take  m  the  fee ;  be  con- 
verted, justified  through  faith  in  Jesus;  persevere  in  prayer 
to  our  heavenly  P'ather  through  Jesus  our  Mediator,  that  ye 
be  sanctified  and  established  in  holiness,  and  may  glorify  God 
in  your  souls  and  bodies,  for  they  of  right  are  his. 

Every  follower  of  Christ  will  thus  contribute  to  the  glory 
of  our  Holy  Father,  whom  Christ  came  to  glorify,  and  did 
gloiify  in  all  his  ways,  among  the  children  of  men,  as  Jeho- 
vah himself  testified  in  our  text,  and  that  he  would  glorify 
his  name  again;  alluding,  doubtless,  to  the  further  progress 
and  final  triumph  of  our  blessed  Saviour's  passion. 

That  to  him  belongeth  all  glory  who  is  himself  all  glorious, 
dwelling  in  transcendent  glory,  and  being  the  King  of  Glory, 
none  of  an  enlightened  understanding  will,  we  presume,  dare 
to  deny.  O  the  mo.4  excellent  glory,  from  whence  cometh 
every  good  and  perfect  gift ;  every  thing  lovely,  amiable  and 
deliohtful,  for  God  is  love,  and  they  that  dwell  in  God  dwell 
in  love;  in  love  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory,  being  the  tem- 
ple of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  comforter  who  instils  into  the 
soul  joys  celeslial  and  full  of  bliss;  joys  of  Angeis  surround- 
ing the  glorious  throne  of  the  Majesty  on  High,  to  be  par- 
takers with  them  of  the  happiness  of  heaven  while  pilgrims 
yet  on  earth  ;  thus  Christ  has  glorified  the  name  ol  Jehovah, 
and  in  his  saints  he  is  glorified. 

The  voice  1  have  glorified  and  will  glorify  it  again,  came 
from  the  same  holy  source  as  that  heard  by  his  devoted 


42  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD. 

disriples,  when  visited  by  Moses  and  Klijah  in  glorious 
chariots  from  the  celestial  regions,  and  the  blessed  Jesus  was 
tra-  sfigured  and  the  holy  trio  shone  in  heaven's  resplendent 
gloiy.  Will  unbelievers  still  continue  contrary  and  deny 
that  this  was  the  Son  of  God,  the  promised  Messiah,  the  Sa- 
viour of  the  world,  and  not  hear  htrn  and  believe  in  him  as 
all  are  commanded,  to  the  saving  of  their  immortal  souls; 
for  verily,  there  is  no  other  name  given  whereby  they  can  be 
made  partakeis  of  the  joys  of  Angels  in  heaven;  to  inherit 
with  the  saints,  the  mansions  which  he  has  prepared  on  high 
for  all  that  love  him,  and  who  anxiously  watch  unto  prayer 
unto  his  return.  O'  will  ye  forfeit  the  joys  of  heaven  for 
those  on  earth,  uhich  are  no  joys  at  all,  for  the  wretched- 
ness and  misery  attendant  even  in  this  life,  of  carnal  desires 
gratified,  far  over-balance  the  joy  they  afford  ;  and  then  the 
dread  of  an  eternity  of  banishment  from  every  thing  glorious 
and  holy,  to  a  place  of  darkness,  torment  and  despair,  which 
must  inevitably  be  the  burden  of  every  soul  alienated  from  a 
life  of  holiness  and  godlmess,  unless  given  over  to  hardness 
of  heart  and  reprobateness  of  mind,  which  is  infimtel  v  worse, 
to  be  able  to  commit  the  most  filthy  and  horrid  crimes  with- 
out repup^nance  of  conscience. 

O  what  a  magnificent  and  glorious  place  heaven  is,  the 
New  Jerusalen.,  Paradise,  where  the  Holy  God  is  enthroned 
in  effulgent  glory,  surrounded  by  innumerable  hosts  of  Arch- 
Angels  and  Angels,  Cherubims  and  Seraphims,  and  Saints  in 
white,  who  are  ever  singing.  Holy!  Holy!!  Holy!!!  Lord 
God  Almighty,  who  wast  and  art,  and  art  to  come,  thou  King 
of  Saints.  "  Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hiith 
it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to  conceive  the  joys  there 
pre])ared  for  those  that  love  him."  Now  we  see  him  with 
a  veil  between,  but  then  face  to  face,  as  he  is,  so  shall  we  see 
the  bless'd  God,  enjoy  him  and  commune  with  him  with 
greater  pleasure  and  closer  intimacy  than  even  Moses  did, 
because  all  human  and  worldly  thoughts  and  cares  wil  be 
banished  from  our  souls,  and  we  shall  be  exalted  and  be  like 


THE  GLORY  OF  GOD.  43 

unto  the  Angels,  glorious  and  holy,  reflecting  the  splendour 
of  our  Eternal  Father.  If  Moses  lace  shone,  reflecting  the 
glory  of  the  Deity,  after  having  been  only  forty  days  and 
nights  uith  God  on  the  Mount,  so  that  the  children  of  Israel 
could  not  behold  his  face  without  a  veil  between,  O!  how 
much  greater  must  have  been  the  luster  and  glory  of  the 
transfiguration  of  our  blessed  Saviour  on  the  Mount,  having 
this  same  Moses  who  had  been  for  thousands  of  years  ia 
the  presence  of  the  Majesty  on  High,  serving  God  in  his 
Holy  Temple,  on  the  one  side,  and  the  indefatigable,  holy 
and  faithful  Elijah,  who  walked  with  God  until  it  pleased  the 
Lord  to  end  his  ministration  and  send  his  chariot  and  horses 
of  fire,  all  glorious  as  the  resplendent  sun,  to  convey  him  to 
the  court  of  his  Eternal  H9rmess,  where  he  has  been  exalted 
for  hundreds  of  years  on  the  other  side.  Ol  what  a  trio  of 
luminaries,  even  obscuring  the  Sun  in  his  meridian  splendor. 
No  wonder  then  that  this  combination  of  glory  would  over- 
power and  cause  the  three  favorite  disciples,  although  divine- 
ly taught,  but  inhabiting  earthly  forms,  to  fall  prostrate  to 
the  ground. 

Thus  have  we  been  trying  to  present  to  your  minds  a 
glimpse  of  the  beatific  glory  of  the  Majesty  on  High,  where 
none  can  enter  without  holiness,  for  the  King  who  reigns 
there  Omnipotent  in  power,  commnnds,  "  be  ye  Holy  as  T 
am  Holy,"  and  swears  in  his  wrath  that  none  other  shall  enter 
into  his  rest.  It  is  therefore,  absolutely  necessary  to  be 
inured  in  a  life  of  godliness  to  be  paitakers  of  the  bliss  of 
Angels,  which  shall  never  retrograde  but  progress  through 
endless  ages ;  as  so  limited  a  degree  of  glory  as  shone  in  the 
face  of  Moses,  or  even  at  the  transfiguration  on  the  Mount 
was  overpowering;  how  much  more  would  the  perfection 
then^of  in  the  courts  of  God  be  to  the  carnal  and  earthly 
minded,  who  never  through  faith  in  Jesus  beheld  through  a 
veil  his  glory,  nor  been  exercised  in  the  paths  of  virtue  and 
holiness,  but  been  all  their  lives  averse  thereunto,  hating 
God  and  serving  the  devil ;  dishonoring  their  creator  and 


44  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD. 

bountiful  benefjictor  instead  of  contributing  to  his  glory; 
they  sHbII  never  enter  into  his  kingdom  without  being  regen- 
erated, for  our  God,  to  all  such  is  a  consuming  fire. 

''' 1  will  glorify  it  again  f  alluding  no  doubt  to  our  blessed 
Lord's  passion  in  Getlisemane  and  triumph  on  Calvary,  as 
the  name  of  the  Father  had  ber^n  glorified  hitherto  by  the 
humble  and  obedient  course  of  our  blessed  Saviour ;  his 
victory  when  permitted  to  be  tempted  t)y  satan ;  the  mira- 
cles he  wrought  by  the  power  of  God,  upon  the  souls  and 
bodies  of  men;  surely  the  spirit  of  God  was  in  an  abundant 
degree  upon  him,  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  cheer  the 
broken  hearted  and  set  the  captives  free,  and  bre?k  every 
band  of  the  devil  which  held  them  in  misory  and  wretched- 
ness, and  fear  and  torment;  the  torment  of  death  and  the 
fear  to  appear  before  a  just  and  offended  Judge,  and  of  hav- 
ing to  meet  their  doom  in  hell,  where  there  is  no  rest,  but 
despair  and  torment  forever  and  ever.  Beware  all  ye  sin- 
ners how  ye  mispend  in  the  service  of  satan,  the  tmie  allot- 
ted you  here;  to  the  dishonor  of  God  and  the  neglect  of 
your  soul's  salvation,  for  verily  there  is  a  day  of  retribution 
near  at  hand  to  every  one  of  you ;  may  your  blood  be  upon 
your  own  heuds  if  you  continue  in  your  sinful  course  of 
wickedness ;  disregard  the  warning  voice  of  Christ  and  his 
true  embassadors,  and  die  in  your  sins,  when  you  should 
have  w^orked  out  your  souls  salvation  through  Jesus  the 
Redeemer,  the  author  and  finisher  of  faith;  who  has  glori- 
fied God  through  obedience  to  death,  even  the  death  of  the 
cross,  to  achieve  salvation  for  sinful  creatures — but  you  do 
despite  and  dishonor  his  holy  spirit  by  your  apostate  lives  : 
O  why  will  ye  die,  ye  wretched  sinners. 

The  name  of  the  glorious  and  holy  God  will  again  be  glo- 
rified at  the  utter  destruction  of  the  works  of  the  devil,  when 
the  old  beast  will  be  chained  and  cast  into  hell  and  all  his 
followers  with  him,  to  their  dismay  and  confusion,  and 
gnashing  of  teeth  forever;  and  when  King  Jesus  will  take 


THE  GLORY  OF  GOD.  45 

the  kingdom  to  himself, descend  with  the  New  Jerusalem, 
and  reign  with  his  holy  saints  on  earth  a  thousand  years. 

J'inaJly,  when  the  blessed  God  will  judge  the  earth  by  that 
man  whom  he  has  ordained;  when  the  Son  of  Man  shall 
come  in  his  glory  and  all  the  Holy  Angels  with  Him,  then 
shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  His  Glory.  And  before  Him 
shall  be  gathered  all  nations,  and  he  shall  separate  them 
one  from  another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the 
goats;  and  He  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the 
goats  on  the  left.  For  the  fearful,  and  unbelieving,  and  the 
murderers,  and  whoremongers,  and  sorcerers,  and  idolators, 
and  all  liars,  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake  which  burneth 
with  fire  and  brimstone.  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto 
them  on  his  right  hand,  come  ye  blessed  of  My  Father,  in- 
herit the  Kingdom  prepared  (or  you  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world,  and  we  shad  inherit  the  J\ew  Heaven  and  Earth, 
and  Glorify  God  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


BISCOUKSE  IV. 
CHRIST'S  WITNESSES. 

And  we  are  Ms  ivitnesses  of  these  things,  and  so  is  also  the 

Holy  Ghost  whom  God  hath  given  to  them  that  chey  him. 
When  they  heard  that^  they  were  cut  to  the  heart,  and  took 

counsel  to  slay  them, 

[Acts,  5th  chop.,  32d  ^  33d,  verse. 

Our  blessed  Saviour  did  not  sojouin  on  (^arth  in  dark  or 
obscure  places,  as  infidels  would  have  us  believe;  yea  they 
v/ould  even  have  us  deny  thit  there  ever  was  such  a  person 
as  the  Son  of  God;  who  left  his  father's  throne  to  be  born  of 
a  Virgin,  rocked  in  a  cradle,  sheltered  from  the  dampness  of 
the  season  by  the  roof  of  a  stable  at  a  cosiimon  Inn.  It  is 
scarcely  to  be  wondered  at,  by  viewing  the  folly  of  the  world 
through  all  ages  down  to  this  present  time,  which  has  ever 
been  inflated  with  vanity  and  pride,  indulging  in  luxuries  of 
all  description,  as  at  this  day,  that  many  would  thus  cojijec- 
ture,  and  aid  in  the  delusion  of  their  souls  by  their  greatest 
enemy,  contrary  to  the  prophecy  of  an  infinitely  wise  and 
holy  God,  who  saw  proper  and  was  graciously  pleased  thus 
to  ordain,  and  in  due  time  to  fulfil  his  revelation  in  the  above 
described  manner.  Thou  Bethlehem  though  least  among 
the  thousands  of  Judea,  yet  out  of  thee  shall  the  sceptre 
arise.  Hundreds  and  thousands  knew  the  predictions  of  our 
Lord's  coming,  and  there  was  a  general  expectation  ar  the 
time  the  Moroing  Star  arose  in  Bethlehem,  to  enlighten 
them  that  sit  in  darkness  and  give  glory  to   his  church. 

Holy  Simeon  testified  that  he  was  the  I^ord's  Christ,  when 
he  prayed  that  he  might  now  depart  in  peace,  for  says  he  "I 
have  seen  thy  salvation.""  It  was  revealed  unto  him  that 
he  should  remain  until  his  eyes  were  thus  Hessed.  Anna 
the  prophetess,  likewise  testified  and  spake  of  him  to  all 
that  looked  for  redemption  in   Israel.     These  w^ere  under 


CHRIST'S  WITNESSES  47 

the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  a^;  recorded  in  our  text,  as 
well  as  those  precreding  who  walked  with  God,  in  love  and 
ohedience,  and  who  saw  the  glory  of  tiie  only  begotten  of 
the  Feather  afar  off;  and  rejoiced  in  the  light  of  the  glory  of 
the  Sun  of  Kighieousness,  which  was  to  illuminate  the  earth 
in  a  future  day.  Through  him  they  ended  their  course  with 
joy,  and  departed  to  be  with  him  whom  their  souls  loved. 

It  does  therefore  fully  appear  that  the  blessed  Jesus  was  not 
without  witnesses  from  almost  the  beginning  of  the  world, 
until  his  manifestation  in  the  flesh.  The  career  of  his 
apostles  from  thence  to  the  present  time,  nor  shall  be  to  the 
consummation  of  all  things,  and  his  coming  to  judge  the 
world  in  righteousness, — "  many  shall  wax  cold,  and  fall  off 
yet  at  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man  shall  he  find  faith  on 
the  earth.""  From  these  words  we  infer  that  he  will  always 
have  a  name  on  the  earth— a  church — a  few  followers  and 
true  witnesses,  however  corrupt  the  rest  of  mankind  may  be; 
yea,  they  shall  even  be  as  at  the  time  of  Noah,  and  the  des- 
truction of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  iVJy  readers,  ye  can  dis- 
cern the  face  of  the  sky,  can  ye  discern  the  signs  of  liiese 
present  times? 

The  apostles  from  an  humble  occupation,  were  chosen  to 
be  initiated  and  instructed,  to  walk  with  their  Lord  in  the 
same  path  of  holiness,  yet  not  with  the  same  mountain's 
burden  as  the  iniquity  of  the  whole  world  presents  to  our 
view,  upon  their  souls.  Jesus  was  truly  the  Lamb  of  God; 
an  offering  for  sinners  in  one  sense  of  the  wo^d,  yet  not  to 
the  extent  of  the  Universalist's  creed — iiood,  bad  and  indif- 
erent,  to  live  with  him  through  eternity;  a  miscellaneous  and 
congruous  mass,  like  unto  the  one  which  he  came  to  purify 
and  sift;  the  wheat  to  be  gathered  into  his  garner  and  the 
chaff  to  be  burned  with  fire  unquenchable.  Has  his  word 
then  fallen  to  the  ground,  or  been  wiihdrawn?  Impossible! 
firm  as  the  throne  of  God  they  remain.  Hear  the  Saviour, 
Judge,  himself,  "  Heaven  and  Earth  shall  pass  away,  but 
my  words  shall  not  pass  away." 


48  CHRIST'S  WITNESSES. 

These  privileged  men  were  constantly  about  our  Lord. 
When  the  multitudes  had  been  dismissed  and  gone  to  their 
homrs,  these  were  found  to  tarry  in  deserts  and  on  mountains, 
to  minister  unto  then'  master;  listening  to  his  instructive  les- 
sons, and  drinking  deep  into  the  fountain  of  holiness.  I^hey 
were  acquainted  with  his  oppression,  travail  and  gnef;  the 
shame  he  endured,  his  agony  in  Gethsemane,  and  his  death 
on  Mount  Calvary;  his  buri;il,  the  caution  taken  to  prevent 
his  resurrection.  jNotwithstanding  he  arose,  they  saw  him 
after  his  resurrection,  spake  with  him,  received  further  in- 
struction from  him,  were  confirmed  in  their  faith,  instructed 
to  preach  the  gospel  to  all  nations,  "And  lo'  I  am  with  you 
always  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  was  the  promise  of 
the  blessed  Saviour  to  all  his  peculiar  people,  his  true  follow- 
ers. They  finally  accompanied  and  surrounded  him  at 
Bethany,  where  they  received  his  blessing  and  saw  him  as- 
cendifjg  to  heaven  from  out  of  the  midst  of  them.  With  the 
assurance  of  his  return  in  due  time,  the  apostles  returned  to 
Jerusalem  glorifying  and  praising  God. 

They  continued  in  prayer  and  watching  day  and  night 
until  peniecost  was  come,  when  they  were  fully  ordain- 
ed by  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  promised  com- 
forter, divine  guide  and  instructor;  speaking  in  different  lan- 
guages, all  Jesusalem  was  astonished;  some  mocked,  and 
accused  them  of  intemperance,  but  Peter  arose  with  the 
eleven  and  boldly  vindicated  his  honor  with  those  of  his  com- 
panions, and  showed  from  scripture  that  the  piophecies  were 
now  fulfilling  before  their  eyes,  and  that  Christ  whom  they 
had  crucified  and  slew,  God  had  raised  from  the  dead,  for  he 
would  not  suffer  his  Holy  One  to  see  corruption,  but  exalted 
him  to  his  own  right  hand,  until  he  would  make  all  his  foes 
his  footstool.  Many  felt  the  weight  of  these  words  and  be- 
came concerned  about  their  eternal  welfare,  inquiring,  "what 
must  we  do  to  be  saved;"  and  many  were  added  unto  the 
church,  continuing  in  the  apostles  doctrine  and  fellowship,  in 
breaking  of  bread  and  prayers;  their  number  increased  daily 


CHRIST^S  WITNESSES.  49 

in  consequence  of  their  importunity  and  power  to  heal  the 
sick,  cause  the  lame  to  leap  for  joy,  and  to  praise  God. 

These  holy  additions  to  the  church  alarmed  the  powers  of 
hell  and  darkness,  which  slew  their  master,  whose  words 
were  now  fulfilled,  *'  If  they  have  persecuted  me,  they  will 
persecute  you,  if  they  have  kept  my  sayings  they  will  keep 
yours  also."  So  it  was,  they  laid  hands  upon  them  and  put 
them  into  the  hold  until  the  next  day*,  when  the  High  Priest 
with  all  his  household  were  assembled,  they  were  brought 
before  them  and  questioned  concerning  the  power  by  which 
they  wrought.  Peter,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  again  jus- 
tified their  doings,  and  that  thmugh  Jesus  of  Nazareth  whom 
they  crucified,  but  whom  God  raised  from  the  dead.  The 
man  stood  whole  before  them;  it  was  the  impotent  man  that 
formerly  begged  at  the  beautiful  gate  of  the  temple,  whom 
Peter  and  John  had  healed,  which  provoked  this  ado  among 
the  rulers  and  Satan  their  master;  they  however,  took  knowl- 
edge that  the  apostles  had  been  with  Jesus;  they  were  per- 
suaded in  their  minds  that  a  higher  power  than  that  belong- 
ing to  man  operated  through  them,  and  confessed  to  one 
another  that  they  could  not  deny  but  that  a  notable  miracle 
had  been  done,  and  that  it  spread  no  further,  commanded 
them  to  speak  to  no  man  in  the  name  of  Jesus.  The  apos- 
tles departed  unmindful  of  the  threats  of  their  enemies,  to 
obey  God  rather  than  these  wretched  men;  they  triumphed 
and  rejoiced  in  their  God  and  Saviour,  laboring  with  more 
eeal  in  his  vineyard  and  for  his  glory,  signs  and  wonders 
following  them.  The  good  work  of  the  Lord  continued,  so 
that  it  was  sufficient  for  only  the  shadow  of  Peter  to  pass 
over  the  sick  lo  restore  them  to  health;  this  again  inflamed 
with  anger  the  High  Priest  and  Rulers,  seeing  such  multi- 
tudes coming  from  all  cities,  bringing  their  sick  with  them. — 
They  confined  the  disciples  in  the  common  prison,  but  the 
Angel  of  the  Lord  that  night  delived  them,  and  told  them  to 
"go  stand  and  speak  in  the  temple  to  the  people  all  the  words 
of  life;''  which  they  did  accordingly,  and  were  found  there 

6 


so  CHRIST^S  WITNESSES 

teaching  in  the  morning  by  their  persecutors,  after  having 
searched  the  prison  house  in  vain  for  them;  the  captains  and 
officers  brought  them  before  their  superiors  without  violence, 
for  they  feared  the  people  lest  they  be  stoned  by  them — they 
were  set  before  the  council  and  reminded  by  the  High  Priest 
that  they  weie  told  previously  not  to  speak  in  that  name,  and 
"behold,"  he  exclaimed,  "ye  have  filled  Jerusalem  with  your 
doctrine,  and  intend  to  brmg  this  man's  blood  upon  us." — 
Then  Peter  and  the  other  apostles  answered  and  said,  "We 
ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  men."  "The  God  of  our 
fathers  raised  up  Jesus  whom  ye  slew  and  hanged  on  a  tree* 
Him  hath  God  exalted  with  his  right  hand  to  be  a  Prince  and 
a  Saviou!, for  to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and  forgiveness  of 
sins."  Here  follow  the  words  of  our  text,  "And  we  are 
his  witnesses  of  thes'^  things,"  &c. 

The  rulers  would  fain  have  cleared  themselves  of  the  in- 
nocent blood  which  stained  their  garments  and  clave  to  their 
souls,  but  this  was  impossible:  the  deed  was  done,  in  mad- 
ness they  had  slain  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  were  justly  accu- 
sed of  their  crime,  which  cut  them  to  the  heart;  "a  guilty 
conscience  who  can  bear?"  They  gnashed  their  teeth  upon 
the  apostles,  and  took  counsel  to  slay  them,  thinking  no 
doubt,  by  putting  them  out  ol  the  way  they  would  quiet  the 
matter,  and  ease  their  minds  of  the  shame  and  guilt  which 
haunted  their  wretched  souls;  but  in  this  rash  act  they  were 
opposed  by  one  Gamaliel,  a  doctor  of  the  law,  who  was  of 
a  more  elevated  spirit,  who  reasoned  with  them  on  the  pro- 
priety of  desisting  from  their  hellish  design;  to  refrain,  and  to 
let  these  men  alone;  sf  their  work  was  of  men  it  would  come 
to  nought,  but  if  it  was  of  God  they  could  not  overthrow  it — 
and  would  put  themselves  in  a  hostile  attitude,  be  found  fight- 
ing against  God;  the  awful  and  inevitable  consequence  v\hich 
would  be  the  result,  if  their  rage  continued  and  they  murder- 
ed these  men,  he  could  easily  anticipate  from  the  justice  of 
God,  and  the  history  of  former  limes.  "  Touch  not  mire 
annointed  and  do  my  children  no  harm,  saith  the  Lord." 


CHRIST'S  WITNESSES.  51 

Surely  the  wicked  cannot  stand  against  God,  for  he  will  turn 
them  with  all  the  nations  that  forget  him  into  hell;  or  can 
they  really  fight  against  him  who  is  Omnipotent?  can  they 
thunder  with  a  voice  hke  his?  can  they  invent  torments  like 
those  he  has  prepared  for  his  enemies?  are  they  versed  in 
destruction?  He  who  sitteth  in  the  heavens,  the  High  and 
Holy  One  who  inhabiteth  eternity,  laugheth  them  to  scorn; 
yea  the  Lord  of  Hosts  holdeth  them  in  derision. 

God,  however,  permitted  them  to  abuse  his  disciples  fur- 
ther ;  after  hearing  Gamaliel,  they  agreed  among  themselves 
to  beat  the  apostles  and  charge  them  henceforth  not  to  speak 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus;  which  they  accordingly  did, 
and  then  suffered  them  to  depart.  The  disciples  hastened 
out  from  among  them  rejoicing  that  they  were  accounted 
worthy  to  suffer  shame  and  be  persecuted  for  Christ's  name; 
doubtless  remembering  his  words,  "great  shall  be  your  re- 
ward in  heaven,  for  so  persecuted  they  the  prophets  that  were 
before  you."  And  probably,  "  Be  not  afraid,  be  not  afraid 
of  their  terror,  which  is  to  them  a  sure  sign  of  perdition,  but 
to  you  of  salvation  and  that  of  God;  for  to  you  it  is  not  only 
given  to  believe  on  Christ,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his  name's 
sake,  so  that  when  his  glory  is  revealed  from  above  ye  may 
likewise  rejoice  with  him  in  glory,  for  the  spirit  of  Christ  and 
of  glory  is  upon  you.  On  their  part  he  is  evil  spoken  of,  on 
your  part  he  is  glorified." 

These  gracious  words  must  have  been  a  sweet  balm  and 
at  the  same  time  a  powerful  stimulous  to  remain  faithful  and 
devoted  followers  of  their  master,  and  obey  him  rather  than 
men;  for  we  are  informed  that  straightway  they  were  again  in 
the  temple  teaching  the  people,  and  preaching  Jesus  Christ 
with  increased  zeal,  for  the  glory  of  him  whom  they  delighted 
to  serve  and  honor,  and  for  the  welfare  of  their  fellow  beings. 
They  extended  their  mission  from  house  to  house;  taught, 
preached,  and  alleviated  the  miserable  and  wretched;  healed 
their  souls  and  bodies  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  The 
church   increased  and  believers  were  multiplied;  hundreds 


52  CHRIST'S  WITNESSES, 

and  thousands  rejoiced  in  the  knowledge  of  the  remission 
of  their  sins,  of  being  born  again,  of  having  the  witness  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  testify  with  their  spirits  that  they  were 
sons  and  heirs  of  God,  joint  heirs  with  Christ,  and  could 
bear  indubitable  testimony  of  the  salvation  which  is  through 
him,  and  also  that  Christ  was  he  which  was  to  come,  the 
Messiah.  That  God  had  raised  him  from  the  dead  and  ex- 
alted him  to  his  right  hand  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  to  give 
repentance  and  forgiveness  of  sins;  now  the  word  ol  the 
Lord  had  free  course  and  was  glorified.  The  enemies  of  the 
cross  being  somewhat  conquered,  the  saints  went  on  their 
way  rejoicing,  this  was  but  a  momentary  respite;  he  who 
was  cast  out  from  the  presence  of  the  Holy  God,  the  prince 
of  darkness,  could  not  suffer  his  children  to  remain  inactive, 
for  verily  the  word  of  God  is  against  them.  "  There  is  no 
rest  for  the  wicked,"  saith  our  God.  Still  the  children  of 
light,  the  followers  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  had  abundance 
of  peace  amid  sufferings  and  persecutions:  read  the  words  of 
the  Lord,  "These  things  I  have  spoken  unto  you,  that  in  me 
ye  might  have  peace.  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation, 
but  be  of  good  cheer,  I  have  overcome  the  world."  But  for 
the  children  of  darkness  there  is  no  peace  even  in  the  w@rld, 
which  ihey  take  for  their  portion;  while  permitted  to  creep  on 
the  dunghill  of  iniquity,  commit  all  lewdness  and  abomina- 
tion with  greediness,  to  be  bastards  on  the  earth  and  a  stink 
in  the  nose  of  holiness,  until  God's  mercy  is  exhausted,  jus" 
tice  vindicated,  and  his  judgments  doom  them  to  endless  per- 
dition and  misery  in  hell!!  There  is  no  peace  for  devils,  or 
men  which  have  become  such. 

Rejoice  therefore,  lift  up  your  heads  and  leap  for  joy,  all 
ye  sons  of  God,  even  in  the  fiery  furnace  of  persecution,  for 
your  redemption  draweth  nigh;  when  ye  are  wading  in  the 
waters,  when  the  floods  come  nigh  your  souls,  be  not  dismay- 
ed, your  God  is  about  your  path,  he  will  uphold  you  with 
the  right  hand  of  his  majesty,  and  when  ye  walk  in  the  fire 
it  shall  not  burn  unto  your  souls,  "for  1  am  your  God,  1  have 


CHRIST'S  WITNESSES.  53 

called  you  by  your  name,  ye  are  mine;  1  will  deliver  and 
honor  you  and  ye  shall  glorify  me."  O  what  glorious,  sweet 
and  heavenly  words  are  these!  What  love  to  poor  mortals! 
What  condescension,  what  kindness!  Although  cast  out  as 
evil-doers,  and  killed  all  the  day  long  by  our  fellow-men; 
hunted  as  sheep  by  wolves,  but  yet  not  destroyed  nor  forsa- 
ken by  our  Heavenly  Father;  no!  now  is  the  time  he  arises 
to  plead  our  cause  against  our  enemies,  to  hurl  their  pre- 
sumption to  the  ground,  and  make  them  before  him  as  the 
chaff  of  the  midsummer's  threshing  floor.  O  the  value  of 
such  a  friend,  to  stop  the  mouths  of  Lions,  to  beat  down  our 
enemies,  and  finally  bring  us  into  the  haven  of  eternal  rest 
and  felicity.  O  that  we  could  love  him  better,  honor  and 
glorify  him  more  and  more. 

My  dear  brethren,  ye  who  walk  in  the  spirit  of  God,  being 
the  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  not  weary  in  well-doing; 
keep  your  reins  tight,  that  ye  give  not  freedom  to  your  natu- 
ral affections  and  passions  which  are  lying  dormant  in  your 
bodies,  having  been  conquered  through  the  captain  of  our 
salvation,  the  conqueror  of  devils,  sin,  death  and  hell.  Be 
therefore  not  enticed  or  provoked  by  these  powers  to  do  evil; 
they  will  beset  you  on  either  hand,  and  when  they  find  you 
inflexible  will  revile  and  upbraid  you  —disregard  all  these 
trifles  as  our  brethren  the  apostles  did;  neither  turn  to  the 
right  hand  nor  the  left,  but  keep  straight  on  your  way,  with 
your  faces  Zion-ward.  Be  dilligent  in  watching,  fasting,  and 
above  all,  prayer,  that  ye  fall  not  into  temptation,  and  when 
permitted  to  be  tempted  that  ye  come  off  innocent  and  v\ith 
honor,  as  our  Lord  and  Master  also  did,  who  was  permitted 
to  be  thus  assaulted — and  like  him  let  not  the  frowns  nor 
smiles  of  the  world  influence  you  against  the  discharge  oi 
your  duty  to  God,  and  should  they  be  even  permitted  to  exe- 
cute their  threats,  ye  all  know  what  St.  Paul  saith,  "For  me 
to  live  is  Christ  and  to  die  is  gain."  Be  ye  therefore  of  the 
same  mind,  for  death  is  in  the  catalogue  of  the  blessings  of 
the  saints  of  the  Most  High;  every  one  is  not  privileged  thus 


54  CHRIST'S  WITNESSES. 

to  glorify  our  God  and  Saviour  and  wear  a  martyr  s  crown 
in  the  courts  above.  1  urge  you  finally  my  brethren,  pray, 
pray  without  ceasing,  pray  day  and  night  that  your  faith  be 
confirmed  and  your  confidence  increased ;  that  you  may 
grow  in  the  knowledge  of  our  blessed  God,  m  his  wisdom, 
understanding  and  holiness;  that  when  it  pleases  him,  and 
in  such  a  manner  as  he  may  deem  proper,  to  call  you  from 
this  tottering  world,  ye  may  be  found  perfect,  wanting  noth- 
ing, end  your  course  with  joy,  and  your  immortal  souls  be 
wafted  by  Holy  Angels  into  the  realms  of  eternal  glory> 
there  to  join  them  with  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  and  all 
the  patriarchs,  prophets,  apostles,  and  saints  of  the  Lamb,  in 
singing  praises  and  hallelujahs  to  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy 
Ghost,  the  Everlasting  Triune  Deity,  forever  and  ever. 
Amen. 


DISCOURSE  T. 

THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST. 

Jesus  Christy  the  same  yesttrday^  and  to-day  ^  and  forever. 
Be  not  carried  about  loith  divers  and  strange  doctrines^  for  it 
is  a  good  thing  that  the  heart  he  established  with  grace,  not 
with  meats,  jchich  have  not  profited  them  that  have  been  oc- 
cupied therein, 

Hebrews,  1 3/A  chapter,  Sth  S^  9th  verses. 
From  Everlasting  to  Everlasting  Thou  art  God  ;  God  ovet 
all  and  blessed  forevermore ;  Thou  ineffable,  infallibie  Po- 
tentate ;  Thou  King  of  King's  and  Lord  of  Lord's ;  be  Thou 
alone  worshipped,  and  adored  ;  be  Thou  by  Thy  great  name 
Jehovah  feared,  reverenced,  and  honored  ;  be  Thou  alone 
praised;  be  Thou  praised  by  Thy  glorious  Angels  in  heaven 
and  by  their  brethren,  the  holy  saints  and  martyrs  on  the 
earth ;  be  Thou  praised  by  the  whole  creation ;  be  Thou 
alone  praised,  O  Lord ;  to  Thee,  O  God,  be  all  the  worship 
and  praise  forevermore.     Amen. 

Jesus  our  blessed  Redeemer,  while  here  below,  sojourning 
among  creatures  of  the  dust,  who,  although  vile,  sensual  and 
develishjhad  under  their  Satanic  master,  clothed  themselves 
in  self-righteousness  and  a  ficticious  garb  of  holiness  ;  exalt- 
ed themselves  above  all  that  was  of  God  or  Godfy,  were 
consequently  dreadfully  averse  to  "  The  Lord  our  Right- 
eousness," and  diametrically  opposed  to  his  holiness ;  who 
bad  set  up  their  idols  in  their  hearts,  and  were  under  the 
influence  of  him  who  is  the  father  of  all  iniquity,  abomina- 
tion and  crime,  and  who  has  great  delight  to  seat  himself  in 
the  temple  of  God  as  though  he  were  God,  and  to  get  fools 
to  cringe  to  him,  worship  and  bestow  that  honor  upon  him 
which  alone  belongs  to  the  Eternal  Father  of  life  and  glory, 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  same  yesterday^  and  to- 
day, and  forever. 


56  THE  E'llERNlTY  OF  CHRIST. 

Yea,  verily,  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  Be- 
ginning and  the  Ending  ;  He  in  whom  all  things  hve,  move, 
and  have  their  being;  the  power  Omnipotent,  who  by  His  word 
spoke  into  being  the  whole  universe ;  the  Holy  of  Holies, 
where  his  Glory  is  man. lest  to  perfection,  where  the  Cheru- 
bims  and  Seraphims  worship  the  mystic  lieity  in  the  beau- 
ties of  Holiness ;  in  the  effulgence  of  His  Glory,  veil  their 
faces  with  their  wings  and  cry,  "Holyl  Holy!U  Holyl'.l 
Lord  God  Almighty!  which  was,  and  is,  and  is  to  come-y 
Great  and  marvelous  are  Thy  works,  just  and  true  are  thy 
ways  Thou  Kmg  of  Saints;"  Hosanna!  Hosanna!!  Halle- 
lujah!!! Hallelujah!!!  Amen,  Amen;  "Blessing,  and  glory, 
and  wisdom,  and  thanksgiving,  and  honor,  and  power,  and 
might,  be  unto  our  God,  forever  and  ever.     Amen!  Amen!l 

"  Who  shall  not  fear  Thee,  O  i^ord,  and  Glorify  Thy 
name?  for  77zgz/ only  ar^  Holy :  for  all  nations  shall  come 
and  worship  be  lore  Thee  ;  for  Thy  judgments  are  made  man- 
ifest.*' "Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!!  Salvation,  and  glory,  and 
honor,  and  powder,  unto  tlie  Lord  our  God,"  forever  and  ever, 
Amen;  Hallelujah!  Amen!!  Amen!!!  Amen!!!! 

And  when  Jesus,  the  Everlasting  Father  said,  "  let  there 
be  light,"  the  resplendant  sun  slept  into  the  firmanent,  all 
glorious  in  appearance,  reflecting  partially,  the  Creator's 
Glory,  followed  by  the  milder  moon,  comets,  planets  and 
stars  innumerable,  all  contributing  to  their  Maker's  praise:. 

God,  all-wise,  great  and  infinite, 

We  behold  Thee  on  Thy  glor'ous  throne,, 

The  Sun,  thy  great  representative^ 
Traverses  the  a3rial  doome. 

Diffuses  a  gold'n  bloom, 

Drives  on  the  nightly  gloom. 

The  moon  leads  on  the  nocturnal  van^ 

Planets  and  comets,  all  display, 
The  eth'real,  aeriel  fan, 

And  circumvolving,  sing  Thy  lay;, 
The  stars,  the  chorus  array, 
Sweetly  thro'  the  milky  way. 


THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST.  57 

The  train'  passes  thro'  the  Heaven; 

'Gain  the  golden  orb  comes  in  glory, 
Darkness  from  the  earth  is  driven, 

All  nature  live  and  adore  Thee, 
In  fragrant  gloom  and  beauty, 
And  songs  and  melody. 

The  earth  also,  which  we  inhabit,  was  created  of  nothing 
by  His  Almighty  power;  the  mountains  and  the  oceans  ;  the 
bills  and  the  rivers;  the  rocks  and  the  limped  streams;  the 
vast  treasures  of  gold  and  silver,  and  of  other  minerals,  &c. 
&c.  All  living  creatures  moving  thereupon,  the  blessed 
God  created  of  the  dust,  and  imparted  life  temporal,  and  to 
man  eternal,  to  whom  he  conferred  dominion  over  all  the 
other  animals,  reptiles,  and  creeping  things,  in  all  the  waters 
and  moving  on  the  face  of  all  the  earth.  "  For  by  him  were 
all  things  created  that  are  in  heaven,  and  that  are  on  earth, 
visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones,  or  dominions, 
or  principalities,  or  powers  ;  all  things  were  created  by  him, 
and  for  him;  and  he  is  before  all  things,  and  by  him  all 
thinj^s  consist."  Christ  is  therefore,  the  true  and  ever  living 
God,  who  upholds  the  universe  by  the  word  of  his  power; 
the  Father  of  light,  from  whom  comes  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift,  and  with  whom  there  is  no  variableness,  neither 
shadow  of  turning,  "Who  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day? 
and  forever." 

Jesus  Christ,  the  mysterious,  the  Eternal  1  AM,  the  won- 
derful, Councellor,  the  Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father, 
the  Prince  of  Peace,  the  self-existing  Jehovah,  who  weigh- 
eth  the  hills  in  a  balance  and  the  mountains  in  scales — who 
comprehendeth  the  dust  of  the  earth  in  a  measure,  and  me- 
teth  out  the  heavens  with  a  span,  and  the  waters  in  the  hollow 
of  his  hand — who  stretcheth  out  the  north  over  the  empty 
place  and  hangs  the  earth  upon  nothing — who  sets  bounds 
to  the  sea,  saying,  "  thus  far  shall  thy  waters  rage,  and  here 
thy  proud  waves  be  stayed."  "  Before  whom  all  nations 
are  as  dust,  the  small  dust  of  the  balance ;  they  are  even 
lighter  than  vanity,  and  are  as  nothing  before  Him."    Christ 


58  THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST. 

is  the  Lord  of  Hosts  and  the  God  of  battles;  and  woe  be  to 
them  that  strive  with  Him,  and  woe  be  to  all  nations  that 
disregard  his  smiles  and  his  frowns,  and  depart  from  his 
counsel,  and  that  put  away  the  fear  of  Him  from  before  their 
eyes ;  that  set  up  the  stumbhng  block  of  iniquity  in  their 
hearts;  that  go  a  whoring  after  strange  gods;  that  have 
their  pleasure  in  serving  the  devil  in  all  manner  of  abom- 
inations, pride,  vain  glory  and  worldly  ambition,  murders, 
adulteries,  fornications,  witch-crafts,  and  all  manner  of  filthy 
lewdness,  and  have  the  impudence  to  glory  in  their  shame,  as 
though  there  was  no  heaven  of  holiness  nor  Holy  God  in  all 
the  universe.'  Dearth!  earth!!  earth!!!  hear  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  "  I,  Jehovah,  1  am  the  Lord  God,  I  am  Holy,  the  high 
and  lofty  one  who  inhabits  eternity,  and  there  is  no  God  else 
besides  me  ;  a  just  God  and  a  Saviour ;  there  is  none  besides 
me.  LiOok  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth ;  for  I  am  God,  and  there  is  none  else.  1  have  sworn 
by  myself,  the  word  is  gone  out  of  my  mouth  in  righteousness, 
and  shall  not  return, that  unto  me  every  knee  shall  bow,  every 
tongue  shall  swear."  "And  my  name  alone  shall  be  glorifi- 
ed." "He  that  believeth  and  is  baptised,  shall  be  saved,  and 
he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  "  Turn  ye,  turn  ye, 
for  why  will  ye  die!"  "  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away, 
but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away."  "From  dust  ye  are,  and 
to  dust  ye  shall  return  "  "  All  flesh  is  as  grass  and  the  glory  of 
man  as  the  flower  thereof,  the  grass  withers,  the  flower  thereof 
fadeth  away,  but  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth  forever." 

Emmanuel,  in  this  character  Jesus  Christ  sojourned  upon 
earth  to  become  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  a  propitiation  for 
sinful  men  ;  his  God-like  love  was  made  abundantly  mani- 
fest during  his  ministration  of  mercy  here  below,  in  innumer- 
able instances  in  Gethsemane,  before  Pilate,  and  on  Mount 
Calvary,  where  in  love  to  us  he  laid  down  his  life,  and  after- 
wards took  it  again.  "  I  have  power  to  lay  down  my  life, 
and  1  have  power  to  take  it  again."  Christ  arose  victorious, 
conquered  the  devil,  all  hell  and  darkness ;  triumphed  over 
all  principalities  and  powers,  overthrew  them  and  made  an 


THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST.  59 

open  show  of  them.  "  Who  is  this  that  cometh  from  Edom 
with  dyed  garments  from  Bozrah?  This  that  is  glorious  in 
His  apparel,  travehng  in  the  greatness  of  His  strength?" 
"  I  that  speak  in  righteousness,  Mighty  to  save."  "  Where- 
fore art  thou  red  in  thy  apparel,  and  thy  garments  like  him 
that  treadeth  in  the  wine  fat?"  "  I  have  trodden  the  wme 
press  alone,  and  of  the  people  there  was  none  with  me  ;  for 
1  will  tread  them  in  mine  anger,  and  trample  them  in  my 
fury ;  and  their  blood  shall  be  sprinkled  upon  my  garments, 
and  f  will  stain  all  my  raiment :  For  the  day  of  vengeance 
is  in  my  heart,  and  the  year  of  my  redeemed  is  come."  "And 
I  looked,  and  there  was  none  to  help ;  and  I  wondered  that 
there  was  none  to  uphold  ;  therefore,  mine  own  arm  brought 
salvation  unto  me;  and  my  fury,  it  upheld  me."  "Jesus 
Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever." 

Jesus  Christ  is  the  Rock  of  our  Salvation,  the  exalted 
Prince  and  Saviour,  who  gives  repentance  and  remission  of 
sins.  He  all  day  long  holds  out  his  wounded  hands  and  in- 
vites sinners  to  come  to  him  and  be  saved. 

Come,  0  come,  you  all  unto  me, 

That  weary  and  heavy  laden  are, 
I  will  set  you  forever  free, 

And  joys  eternal  you  shall  share. 

Take  my  yoke  upon  you  all, 

And  learn  of  me,  for  I  am  meek, 
O  be  obedient  to  my  call, 

Your  endless  happiness  I  seek. 

From  captivity  I  would  fain 

Release  you  all,  O  then  have  faith  ; 
And  with  me  you  shall  ever  reign, 

And  see  Jehovah  face  to  face. 

In  high  heaven's  eternal  day, 

'Mid  cherubims  and  seraphims, 
Who  their  holy  powers  display, 

In  perpetual  songs  and  hymns. 

With  them  exalted  you  shall  be, 

And  shme  as  the  firmanent  bright, 
Infeverlasting  feUcity, 

In  Paradise  walk  with  me  in  white. 


60  THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST. 

E  This  sweet  invitation,  breathed  forth  in  mercy  and  love  to 
apostate,  rebellious  sinners,  who  are  all  their  lives  held  m 
chains  of  slavery  and  darkness,  misery  and  wretchedness, 
by  the  devil,  subject  to  inevitable  death  and  eternal  torment, 
if  not  liberated  through  Christ  the  Lord  of  life  and  Glory, 
who  is  mighty  to  save  to  the  uttermost,  all  that  come  unto 
him, "  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden, 
take  my  yoke  upon  you  and  learn  of  me  for  I  am  meek,  and 
ye  shall  have  rest  unto  your  souls,  for  my  yoke  is  easy  and  my 
burden  is  light."  O  you  simple  ones  how  long  will  you  suf- 
fer Satan  to  deceive  you?  how  long  will  you  remain  the 
slaves  of  sin?  how  long  will  you  procrastinate  with  the 
time  allotted  you  to  work  out  your  salvation?  O  that  you 
would  mend  your  hearts ;  that  you  would  humble  your- 
selves into  the  dust  before  Christ,  so  that  through  his  great 
salvation,  which  is  alone  in  him,  you  may  be  exalted 
unto  holiness  ;  for  he  that  humbles  himself  shall  be  exalted  ; 
shall  find  grace  in  the  sight  of  God ;  shall  have  forgiveness 
of  sins ;  shall  be  re-instated  to  the  holy  image  of  Jehovah, 
and  finally,  live  with  him  in  Eternal  Glory.  But  not  so  with 
the  proud,  with  those  that  harden  their  hearts  and  stiffen 
their  necks ;  all  such  the  Lord  knows  a-far  off,  and  visits 
them  in  their  abominations  from  on  high  by  his  Omnipo- 
tence, and  will  bring  their  pride  down  to  the  dung  hill,  and 
themselves,  with  their  father  the  devil,  into  hell.  And  alas  I 
this  sin,  with  many  others,  pervades  this  nation  to  an  awful 
degree,  and  if  the  example  of  Ninevah,  at  the  preaching  of 
Jonah,  is  not  followed,  the  judgments  of  the  Most  High  God 
will  sooner  or  later  come  down  to  the  uttermost,  and  who 
can  tell  the  issues  of  the  destruction,  of  the  extirpation, 
after  Divine  wrath  is  appeased:  but  O  how  little  people  are 
concerned  in  preventing  the  suspended  judgments  from  com- 
ing down  ;  in  preventing  the  vials  of  the  wrath  of  Jehovah 
from  being  poured  out  to  the  dregs  upon  them.  The  light 
judgments  which  were  sent  in  mercy  to  warn  you  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come,  you  seem  to  despise,  and  remain 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  and  if  ever  the  words  of  our 


THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST.  61 

blessed  Lord,  "  let  the  dead  bury  the  dead,"  were  applicable 
to  any  people,  it  is  to  this  now — and  are  their  hearts  rent ;  will 
they  begin  to  turn  in  love  to  Go  1 ;  in  love  to  Him  that  smites 
them?  alas,  no!  Will  they  then  in  fear  cease  from  their 
abominations,  lest  his  Almighty  arm  smites  them  with  seve- 
rerjudgments?  alas!  the  contrary,  as  daily  experience  and 
observations  show.  When  tle4ntends  the  many  judgments 
which  he  is  sending  on  this  land  for  blessings,  ihey  are  a 
curse  to  this  ungodly  people,  for  they  really  seem  to  harden 
their  hearts  and  stiffen  their  necks  accordingly,  and  exhibit 
the  rage  and  enmity  of  the  old  serpent,  with  which  they  deal 
so  extensively  and  familiarly;  the  handmaid  to  their  abom- 
ination :  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  are  wallowing  thus 
together  in  the  mire;  and' should  it  be,  therefore,  any  wonder 
if  the  holy  God,  who  is  over  all  blessed  forevermore,  should 
speedily  send  more  and  heavier  judgments  upon  the  world, 
until  it  becomes  entirely  depopulated  and  desolate.  The  land 
would  then  enjoy  her  Sabbalhs  ;  inhale  purer  air,  and  from 
it  would  ascend  sweeter  odours  to  the  holy  God  on  High, 
with  whom  is  no  valuableness,  neither  shadow  of  turning, 
but  who  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever. 

"  Liet  the  potsherds  strive  with  the  potsherds  of  the  earth, 
but  wo!  be  to  hmi  that  striveth  with  his  maker."  There 
may  be  some  little  reason  at  times  in  striving  with  one 
another,  and  of  nations  conquering  one  another,  and  of 
gaining  something  by  the  conquest;  extension  of  territory, 
or  what  is  worth  more,  freedom  from  oppresriion  and  liberty 
of  conscience,  to  worship  God  without  restraint  or  perse 
cution;  which  was  the  case  of  our  forefathers,  for  whom 
God,  by  his  Divine  Providence,  broke  every  foreign  yoke, 
and  set  them  free  in  this  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey; 
that  they  might  love  Him,  worship  and  honor  him  in  spirit 
and  in  truth,  and  walk  with  him,  unblamably,  in  holiness ; 
which  many,  no  doubt,  for  a  time,  did,  and  had  inward  peace 
and  joy  through  faith  in  our  God  and  Saviour,  and  success- 
fully fought,  as  they  now  had  leisure,  the  greater  battles  of 


62  THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST. 

the  s^ul  with  the  powers  of  hell  and  darkness,  and  in  due 
time  triumphed  over  all  their  adversaries,  ended  their  course 
with  joy,  and  are  now  inheriting  brighter  and  more  lasting 
mansions  in  the  happy  Canaan  above,  where  they  can  never 
be  oppressed  by  Satan  and  his  children,  but  rejoice  in  the 
liberty  of  all  the  Angels  of  God  ;  and  this  greater  than  sun- 
shine is,  not  only  for  a  time,  but  an  eternal  day  of  glory. — 
Earthly  things  fade  and  decay ;  men,  the  most  honorable, 
wither  as  the  grass*  and  the  glory  of  nations  disappears  as 
the  floWers  of  the  field,  under  the  displeasure  and  wrath 
of  the  Almighty;  wo!  therefore,  to  them  that  strive  agaiast 
their  Maker.  Where  is  Pharoh,  Scenesherib  and  Nebuchad- 
nezzer ;  where  are  their  valient  hosts,  and  where  is  their  glo- 
ry; fallen!  fallen!!  are  the  mighty,  and  their  glory  is  gone  as 
the  vapor  from  the  mountain's  top.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  to 
many  who  since  moved  in  earthly  splendor  and  had  a  radia  of 
timely  glory  encircling  them  ;  they  are  no  more  :  the  car  of 
time  rolls  speedily  towards  the  verge  of  eternity ;  others  are 
now  on  the  stage  of  action,  but  must  soon  pass  away ;  others 
may  again  follow,  but  will  soon  disappear,  as  the  misty  clouds 
of  the  morning,  and  time  will  be  no  more:  yea,  the  very  heav- 
ens and  the  earth  depart,  but  Jesus  Christ  endures;  he  is 
the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  foreveri 

Be  not  carried  about  ivith  divers  and  strange  doctrines, 
&c.  Behold!  how  from  the  very  beginning  Satan  worked 
in  his  servants,  telling  smooth  and  strange  things  pleasing 
to  flesh  and  blood,  to  please  the  ears  of  the  innocent  and 
unwary,  and  to  impart  his  hellish  doctrines.  Even  the  very 
first  pair,  Adam  and  Eve,  who  were  pure  and  holy,  were 
thus  assaulted  by  him  through  his  servant  the  serpent,  and 
how  far  he  succeeded  you  may  read  in  the  2d  Chapter  of 
Genesis;  through  his  subtilty,  the  awful  consequences  entail- 
ed upon  mankind  to  the  latest  generation  ;  who  have  ever 
since  been  groaning  and  travailing  in  pain  together;  and  not 
only  they,  but  the  whole  living  creation  has  been  and  is  sub- 
ject to  the  same,  and  to  return  together  to  dust  again,  save 


THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST.  6S 

wicked,  rebellious  sinners,  who,  although  endowed  with 
reason,  choose  not  only  temporal,  but  eternal  deaths  in  the 
error  of  their  ways,  the  dreadful  doom  pronounced  against 
all  such  beings  in  consequence  of  Adam's  fall,  in  whom  all 
are  dead  and  meet  for  hell,  until  in  Christ,  the  second  Adam, 
we  live  and  are  meet  for  heaven. 

1  say  that  sinners  choose  death  in  the  error  of  their  way, 
because  they  believe  not  the  words  of  our  blessed  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  which  set  life  and  death  before  them, 
but  give  heed  to  the  seducing  doctrines  of  devils,  of  which 
the  scriptures  particularly  caution  us  to  beware ;  as  many 
false  prophets  and  lying  spirits  shall  be  abroad  in  these  last 
days,  which  shall  deceive  if  possible  the  "very  elect."   From 
hence  we  may  infer  that  Satan,  who  has  been  powerful 
enough  to  deceive  and  ensnare  multitudes  of  every  genera- 
tion hitherto,  has  been  permitted  to  replenish  his  force  :  men 
ought,  also  therefore,  be  more  vigilent  and  zealous  in  the 
good  cause,  the  cause  of  their  own  soul's  salvation,  through 
faith  in  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  remains 
still  plentious  redemption,  notwithstanding  the  increase  of 
Satan's  force ;  it  is  now  only  more  absolutely  necessary  to 
listen  and  hold  to  sound  doctrine,  "  the  doctrine  which  was 
once  dehvered  to  the  Saints;"  how  that  Jesus  Christ  was 
born,  lived  and  ministered  upon  earth  ;  was  crucified,  died, 
arose  fiom  the  dead,  ascended  to  heaven ;  whom  God  has 
exalted  to  his  own  right  hand  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  to 
give  repentance  and  remission  of  sins.     Through  his  death 
he  has  become  a  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  that 
all  that  believe  in  him  should  not  die  but  live  through  all 
eternity;  and  also,  that  God  might  be  just,  and  the  justifier  of 
those  that  believe  in  Jesus. 

The  signs  of  the  times  show  how  dreadful  a  fabric  these 
lying  devils  and  seducing  spirits  have  erected ;  how  wide 
they  have  extended  it ;  and  how  high  they  have  reared  it : 
they  are  ever  busy  as  ants  on  a  mole  hill,  and  when  the 
general  crash  takes  place,  language   will  fail  to  describe ; 


G4  THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST. 

and  the  painter's  pencil  to  depict  the  thou«?anth  part  of  the 
wreck  of  matter,  and  the  destruction  of  soul's  to  the  bottom- 
less pit.  Yes,  the  devil  has  not  been  idle,  but  has  been 
awfully  at  work  through  his  servants,  some  of  the  principal 
ones  were  Voltair,  Paine,  and  Hume,  still  further  to  diffuse 
his  poison  over  poor  fallen  nature,  and  infuse  in  into  the 
hearts  of  the  weak  and  unwary  to  destroy  their  souls.  These 
champions  of  infidelity,  so  pernicious  and  murderous,  have, 
therefore,  not  merely  a  few  discjples  but  millions  are  lulled 
asleep  as  respects  their  soul's  salvation,  but  awake  to  gain 
more  converts — by  their  smooth,  flesh  pleasing,  but  strange 
and  hell  securing  doctrines,  which  together  with  hypocrisy, 
pervade  all  societies,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  and  are 
without  doubt,  greatly  the  cause  of  the  pi  evading  sins  of  this 
age,  and  under  which  this  land  is  groaning. 

For  it  is  a  good  thing  that  the,  heart  be  established  with 
grace,  not  with  meats,  which  have  not  profited  them  that 
have  been  occnjiied  therein.  O  that  ye  were  wise,  that  ye 
would  seek  this  blessing  with  all  your  might,  that  your  hearts 
might  know  salvation  and  be  established  in  him  from  whom 
this  greatest  oi  blessings  flows;  which  brings  sweet  peace 
and  holy  love  and  joy  to  the  soul,  and  fills  the  heart  with  un- 
utterable comfort  and  bliss,  and  causes  it  to  leap  with  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory,  and  rejoice  in  Jesus  Christ 
our  God  and  Saviour,  crying,  "Abba,  Abba,  F'ather."  The 
highest  privilege  to  the  christian  on  earth,  is  to  know  himself 
a  child  of  God,  an  adopted  son,  and  an  heir  of  the  mansions 
of  bliss  and  glory,  reserved  eternal  in  the  heavens  for  all  them 
that  love  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  and 
that  wait  with  desire  his  coming  from  above,  to  be  glorified  in 
his  saints,  and  admired  in  all  them  that  believe.  "  By  grace 
are  we  saved  through  faith — not  of  works,  it  is  the  gift  of 
God — lest  an}  man  should  boast."  O  that  ye  would  then 
go  directly  to  God  for  this  blessing,  that  ye  would  seek  it 
Irom  him  through  a  crucified  Saviour,  with  all  your  might;  he 
is  ever  willing  to  satiate  the  longing  desire  of  a  soul  thirsting 


THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST,  65 

for  salvation;  that  ye  would  therefore  long  after  him  as  a 
hart  panteth  after  a  water  brook;  that  ye  would  be  constrain- 
ed to  come  to  him  who  so  condesceniiingly  invites,  and  in 
kindness  would  fain  persuade  you  to  partake  of  the  greatest 
of  blessings,  without  money  and  without  price.  O  hear  for 
your  eternal  well-being,  his  pressing  invitation,  "And  the 
Spirit  and  the  Bride  say  come.  And  let  him  that  heaieth 
say  come.  And  let  him  that  is  athirst  come,  and  whosoever 
will  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely." 

Rev.  last  chap.,  ITthvor. 

Othat  ye  would  no  longer  be  dazzled  by  these  foul  pools 
of  infidelity  and  inhale   the  miasma  arising  therefrom  and 
wafted  on  the  breeze  by  the  lying  spirits  of  darkness,  to  con- 
taminate your  immortal  souls,  and  cause  them  to  die — 
"  The  death  that  never,  never  dies  ! " 

O  how  dreadful  and  awful  it  is  that  so  many  pass  contin- 
ually over  the  verge  separating  timo  from  eternity,  and  in 
this  terrible  state  are  ushered  into  the  presence  of  tiie  Holy 
Judge. 

Equally  pernicious  is  the  result  to  those  which  are  lulled 
asleep  by  the  smooth  sayings  and  example  of  those  which 
feign  to  wear  the  prophet's  mantel,  and  to  administer  in  the 
things  of  God,  but  hate  the  cross  of  Christ  and  walk  not  in 
the  paths  of  holiness;  preaching  the  word  of  God  while  they 
themselves  are  the  servants  of  Satan,  and  mislead  the  un- 
wary by  portions  of  scripture  to  glaze  over  the  horrid  defor- 
mity of  their  souls  and  hide  tiieir  iniquity;  preaching  peace, 
peace,  when  there  is  no  peace,  but  a  curse  still  suspended 
over  iheir  heads;  which  is  the  case  of  every  one  that  lives  in 
a  carnal  state,  that  is  not  reconciled  unto  God,  that  has  not 
a  saving  interest  in  the  atoning  blood  of  ChrisL;  to  Christ 
therefore  flee,  flee  imniediately,  flee  without  delay  to  him 
who  so  graciously  invites  you;  cast  yourselves  at  his  dear 
feet,  behold  the  blood  flowing  from  them  and  his  hands  and 
side;  implore  the  cleansing,  the  efficacious  merit  of  t'lat  pre- 
cious  blood,  that  ye  may  come  forth  as  the  infirm  and  lepers 

7 


86  THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST. 

out  of  the  pool  of  Siloam,  clean,  and  in  a  sound  stale  of  re- 
ligion, salvation,  and  faith.  Then  ye  will  be  new  creatures 
in  Chnst  Jesus,  and  ^o  on  your  way  rejoicing,  and  mock  at 
dauber  ni^h,  saying  "for  us  to  hve  is  Christ  and  to  die  is  gain;" 
and  also  triumph  in  «!eath,  and  glorify  God,  and  fall  sweetly 
aslef  p  in  Jesus  to  live  with  him  in  another  and  a  better 
world. 

Have  your  hearts  therefore  established  in  grace  and  not  in 
viPats,  which  have  not  prof  ted  them  that  have  been  occu- 
pied (hfreiiu  No  verdy,  the  righteousness  of  God  does  not 
consist  in  eating, drniking  and  merriment,  but  in  faith,  peace 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost;  man  does  not  live  by  bread  alone 
but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of  God* 
But  "Behold,  joy  and  gladness,  slaying  oxen  and  killing 
sheep,  eating  flesh  and  drmking  wine;  let  us  eat  and  drink 
for  to-morrow  we  die."  Isatah,  23(i  chap.  13th  verse.  Bel- 
shazzarwas  not  spared  untd  to-morrow,  but  died  the  self- 
same night  he  v\  as  feasting,  and  so  have  many  others  since. 
If  they  were  not  all  Kings  and  rulers  they  all  had  immortal 
souls  to  be  saved  for  heaven  or  doomed  to  hell;  and  may  it  not 
be  likely  from  appearances — ^ye  can  discern  the  face  of  the 
sky,  buti:an  ye  not  as  well  discern  the  signs  of  the  times? — 
that  Mene  7>/(t7,  stand  opposite  this  nation.  Tekel  applying 
to  the  principal  rulers  thereof;  lighteousness  exalteth  a 
nation,  but  sin  and  shame  cause  the  downfall  thereof;  there- 
fore, while  ye  are  not  yet  entirely  consumed,  for  it  will  not 
take  the  Almighty  long  to  do  it  when  he  brings  sword,  fa- 
mine and  pestih  nee  upon  you — surrender  yourselves  to  him^ 
make  a  treaty  with  him,  yea  above  all  ye  do  or  intend  doing, 
make  your  peace  with  Jehovah;  exercise  wisdom,  be  speed- 
ily at  peace  with  the  eternal  God  of  Hosts,  or  else  ye  may 
very  soon  be  domg  but  very  litlle  as  a  nation.  Ye  know  how 
others  have  fared,  down  to  the  present,  which  had  departed 
from  the  true  and  living  God,  and  he  is  the  same  immutable 
— as  proven  in  the  first  part  of  this  discourse — as  he  was  then 
so  will  he  lemain  from  Everlasting  to  Everlasting. 


THE  ETERNITY  OF  CHRIST.  67 

"  Woe  to  them  that  sit  at  ease  in  Zion,  that  eat  the  choice 
of  the  flock,  and  the  calves  out  of  the  midst  of  the  stalls; 
drink  wine  in  bowls,  and  dance  to  the  tabret  and  harp,  and 
are  not  grieved  for  the  affliction  of  Joseph!"  The  true  church 
of  Christ  in  tliis  country,  has  been  and  is  yet,  greatly  afflict- 
ed and  persecuted;  professors  and  non -professors  are  truly 
yoke-fellows  in  this  work  of  trampling  down  the  Lord's  vine- 
yard; and  noue  lay  it  to  heart,  or  are  afflicted,  and  therefore 
the  above  woe  may  be  justly  applied  to  them.  They  delight 
in  the  good  things  of  this  life,  eating  and  drinking  and  the 
refined — as  they  please  to  call  them — amusements  of  this  age 
of  degenerateness  and  abominations  and  crimes;  notwith- 
standing all  the  outward  show,  which  cannot  stand  the  test 
of  Him  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire.  There  are  none 
that  really  wish  to  come  out  of  the  world,  leave  off  all  its 
sinful  amusements,  and  take  up  the  yoke  of  Jesus  and  attach 
themselves  to  a  few  true,  but  persecuted  followers  of  the 
Lamb.  But  their  religion  seems  to  consist  altogether  in 
hypocrisy  and  deception;  a  form  of  godliness  while  they  know 
nothing  of  the  power;  and  woe  will  be  their  end  and  eternal 
destiny,  if  they  die  thus  in  their  sins.  But  ye  my  brethren 
who  have  your  delight  in  God  and  the  beauties  of  holiness, 
whom  he  has  seated  in  high  and  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
Jesus,  remain  steadfast,  immoveable,  always  abounding  in 
sound  doctrine,  and  every  good  work  of  the  Lord,  rejoice 
evermore,  and  pray  without  ceasing,  that  we  be  found  at  his 
coming,  perfect,  wanting  nothing,  and  be  welcomed  into  the 
kingdom  of  our  Lord,  to  live  with  him  and  all  the  Holy  An- 
gels and  Saints,  in  all  joy,  glory,  felicity  and  happiness,  forever 
and  ever.  Now  unto  the  King  Eternal,  Immortal,  Immuta- 
ble, Invisible,  the  only  wise  God,  be  all  honor  and  glory, 
forever  and  ever.    Amen. 


BIISCOIJR8E  VI. 

THE  LOVE  OF  GOD. 

If  yd.  love  me  keep  my  commandments : 

And  I  will  pray  the  Father^  and  he  shall  give  you  another 

Comforter^  that  he  may  abide  with  you  forever', 
Even  the  Spirit  of  trtith^  whom  the    world    cannot  receive 
because  it  seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth  him,  but  ye  know 
him,  for  he  dwelleth  with  you  and  shall  be  in  you. 

l^St.  John,  \Uh  chap.  1 5th,  I6th,  Sf  llth  verses. 
These  words  of  our  blessed  Lord  are  some  of  the  most 
pathetic  and  consoling  to  his  disciples,  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Indeed  the  whole  chapter,  and  the  two  following, 
abound  in  affectionate  promises,  full  of  consolation  to  his 
sorrowing  companions,  his  disciples  whom  he  had  just  made 
acquainted  with  his  passion,  which  was  to  separate  them  for 
awhile,  in  the  interval  however,  the  comforter  should  take 
his  piace,  and  also  to  abide  forever.  He  was  thus  instructing 
them  in  their  duty  to  him,  and  one  another,  and  the  whole 
church  of  God.  The  strains  of  admonitions,  of  persuasions, 
desires,  and  promises,  are  lovely,  sweet,  and  most  precious; 
then  comes  his  fervent,  holy,  heart-strengthening  and  soul- 
relreshing  prayer,  (in  the  17th  chap.)  for  his  devoted  disciples 
and  faithful  followers,  and  all  them  that  would  believe  on 
him  through  their  word;  in  short  for  his  true  church  on  earth. 
This  inimitable  prayer,  so  full  of  heavenly  love  and  divinity, 
and  the  importunity  that  the  blessing  supplicated  for  might 
not  be  withheld,  but  conferred  upon  his  disciples  and  ail  true 
believers;  it  likewise  shows  how  indefatigable  he  was  in  his 
exertions,  and  how  full  his  soul  was,  yea  to  overflowing,  to 
accomplish  the  work  he  was  engaged  in  to  perfection.  *'A 
man  (he  was  God-man)  will  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends; 
ye  are  my  friends  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you." — 


THE  LOVE  OF  GOD  69 

"  If  ye  love  me  keep  my  commandments." 

O  how  sweet,  how  beautiful,  amiable,  and  delightful  are 
the  affections  when  they  are  all  congenial  and  harmonize  in 
love;  love  to  the  Supreme  being,  and  love  to  our  fellow-men; 
for  the  very  first  commandment  enjoins  love  to  God  and  love 
to  our  neighbors;  and  surely  therefore,  no  one  can  please  him 
who  is  of  a  contrary  disposition;  who  is  disobedient,  self-wil- 
led, full  of  pride,  hatred,  malice  and  revenge:  these  qualities 
are  not  of  God,  for  God  is  Love,  and  also  a  consuming  fire, 
to  consume  all  such  characters,  if  they  end  their  probationary 
state  thus,  with  fire  unquenchable  in  the  gulph  of  despair, 
provided  for  the  devil  and  his  angels.  No  my  readers,  these 
tempers  are  earthly,  sensual  and  devilish,  and  the  more  any 
one  delights  and  lives  in  these  wicked  passions,  the  more  he  is 
under  the  influence  and  control  of  Satan;  and  yet  if  he  sliould 
say  an  hundred  times  "I  love  God,"  these,  his  deeds,  would 
cause  his  words  to  rebound  and  seal  the  lie  upon  him;  there- 
fore also  Christ  saith,  "  If  ye  love  me  keep  my  command- 
ments." 

How  strenuous  our  blessed  Lord  was  with  Peter  on  ac- 
count of  his  weakness  before  Pilate,  by  denying  his  master; 
he  asked  him  thrice  whether  he  loved  him,  and  Peter  twice 
replied,  yea  Lord;  and  the  third  time,  "  Thou  knowest  all 
things,  thou  knowest  that  1  love  thee."  He  then  command- 
ed him  to  feed  his  sheep,  to  feed  his  lambs,  which  is  likewise 
the  duty  of  every  lover  of  God  and  his  neighbor,  less  or  more, 
if  not  to  the  extent  of  Peter,  yet  in  some  measure  as  oppor- 
tunity offers,  to  engage  in  the  holy  cause,  to  lift  up  the  hands 
that  hang  down,  and  strengthen  the  feeble  knees,  through 
the  power  of  God  working  in  us,  and  convince  our  Lord  by 
obedience,  holy  affections  and  tempers,  by  fruits  of  righte- 
ousness and  godliness,  that  we  now  in  reality  love  him,  what- 
ever our  misconduct  and  infidelity  might  have  been  previous- 
ly; that  we  have  now  become  converted  and  have  returned 
to  him  to  serve  him  in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  our 
days. 


70  THE  LOVE  OF  GOD. 

*'  Beloved  let  us  love  one  another,  for  love  is  of  God,  and 
every  one  that  loveth  is  born  of  God,  and  know^eth  God." 
"He  that  iovelh  not  knoweth  not  God,  for  God  is  love." — 
[Isi  General  Epistle  of  John,  4th  chap.,  7th  &  8th  ver. 

How  amiable,  O  how  full  this  disciple  was  of  that  holy- 
attribute  of  God,  and  all  deserving  of  the  appropriate  title, 
'''' Beloved.'*'*  His  sweetness  and  heavenly  dispositions  pro- 
cured for  him  a  place  in  the  bosom  of  our  blessed  Lord,  so 
as  at  meals  to  lean  on  his  master's  breast,  while  his  brethren 
were  not  thus  highly  favored,  although  perhaps  equally  be- 
loved by  the  Lord;  as  we  have  some  proof,  for  instance, 
Christ's  charge  to  Peter;  and  in  othe»-  places  we  are  infor- 
med that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons;  all  are  accepted  of 
him  that  love  him  and  work  righteousness,  but  they  ihat  hate 
him  shall  be  lightly  esteemed,  because  they  are  on  the  side 
of  the  enemy,  on  the  side  of  the  devil,  and  devils  cannot  love; 
consequently  they  are  diametrically  opposed  to  this  high  and 
holy  attribute  of  the  Deity,  and  at  variance  with  his  church 
and  people.  In  this  awful  state  are  all  unregenerate  persons, 
and  whatever  their  ideas  of  love  and  affection  may  be,  they 
are  all  a  lie,  and  so  it  is  with  all  hypocrites  and  deceivers,  as 
it  is  also  written  in  this  epistle,  2d  chap.  4th  verse :  "  He  that 
saith  I  know-  him  and  keepeth  not  his  commandments  is  a 
liar  and  the  truth  is  not  in  him,"  Be  ye  therefore  admonish- 
ed from  the  same  source,  chapter  eleventh,  8th  &  9th  verses: 
"  Little  children,  let  no  man  deceive  you;  he  that  doeth  righte- 
ousness is  righteous  even  as  he  is  righteous.  He  that  com- 
milteth  sin  is  of  the  devil,  for  the  devil  sinneth  from  the 
beginning.  For  this  purpose  the  Son  of  God  was  manifested, 
that  he  might  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil.  Whosoever 
IS  born  of  God  doth  not  commit  sin,  for  his  seed  remaineth 
in  him,  and  he  cannot  sin,  for  he  is  born  of  God.  In  this  the 
children  of  God  are  manifest,  and  the  children  of  the  devil; 
whosoever  doeth  not  righteousness  is  not  of  God,  neither  he 
that  loveth  not  his  brother."  From  hence  we  may  know  by 
examining  ourselves  whether  we  are  born  of  and  are  in  God 


THE  LOVE  OF  GOD.  71 

and  he  in  us:  for  this  purpose  also  our  blessed  Saviour  says, 
**  If  ye  love  me  keep  my  commaudineiit^." 

This  thing  of  professing  love  to  God,  so  peculiar  to  this 
generation,  as  it  also  was  to  the  Pharisees  in  the  time  of  our 
blessed  Saviour;  but  unbelief  and  haired  tJ  his  son  an  I  his 
true  followers,  his  annointed  and  peculiar  people,  \^  a  total 
contradiction  and  gross  perversion  of  the  truth;  at  variance 
with  and  tramples  under  the  holy  designs  of  Jehovah  to  effect 
the  salvation  of  their  souls,  as  they  remain  in  their  old  state 
of  sin  and  iniquity;  notwithstanding  the  accomplishment  of 
salvation  on  Mount  Calvary,  through  the  love  and  obedience 
of  his  son,  whose  blood,  1  say,  is  trampled  upon  by  them  and 
they  crucify  the  son  of  God  anew.     "  Saul!  Saul 'I  why  per- 
secutest  thou  me?     I  am  Jesus  whom  thou  persecutest."     O 
that  they  would  but  behold  him  whom  they  pierced  and  nailed 
to  the  cross  on  Calvary,  hear  amid  his   dying  groans  the 
prayers  ascend  that  his  murderers  might  be  forgiven.     O  that 
they  would  behold  his  bleeding  hands  and  feet,  his  precious 
blood  trickling  to  the  ground  and  cease  trampling  it  under; 
but  use  it  through  faith,  for  the  purifying  themselves  withal, 
for  his  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sins.     O  that  they  would  re- 
flect that  it  was  not  for  any  worldly  consideration  that  men 
could  bestow  upon  him,  for  God  ownetli  the  heavens  and  the 
earth  and  the  fulness  thereof — nor  for  his  own  guilt  that  he 
came  to  suffer  upon  earth,  to  die  on  the  cross,  to  become  a 
propitiation  for  the  sms  of  the  world,  "that  God  might  be 
Just  and  the  justifier  of  them  that  believe  in  Jesus.''     O  that 
they  w^ould  but  be  constrained  and  persuaded  to  love  him 
who  first  loved  us,  and  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  son; 
put  on  the  new  man  of  love,  which  after  him  is  created  in 
righteousnes  and  J  rue  holiness,  so  that  they  might  love  him 
who  is   worthy  of   the  love  of  their  hearts,  minds,  souls, 
spirits  and  strength;  a  id  be  free  from  fear  and  the  bondage 
of  the  Wicked   One,   in  which  they   have  been   kept  all 
their  lives;  for  fear  I  ath  torment,  but  perfect  love  casteth 
out  fear.    "  JLove  not  the  world,  neither  the  things  that  are  m 


72  THE  LOVE  OF  GOD. 

the  world.  If  any  man  lovo  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Fath- 
er is  not  in  him.  For  all  that  is  in  the  world;  the  lust  of  the 
flesh,  and  the  lusts  of  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life,  is  not  of 
the  Father  but  is  of  the  world.  And  the  world  passeib 
away,  and  the  lusts  thereof,  but  he  that  doelh  the  will  ol 
God  abideth  forever.*"  [St.  John's  1st  epistle,  2d  chapter.} 
if  we  have  become  perfectly  loosened  from  the  world  and 
these  murdering  things,  and  have  a  delight  in  God  and  his 
words  to  do  them,  then  the  following  portion  of  scripture 
will  apply  to  us  and  will  be  most  sweet  and  precious  to  our 
souls:  ''He  that  hath  my  commandments  and  keepeth 
them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me,  and  he  that  loveth  me  will  be 
loved  of  my  Father,  and  1  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come 
onto  him  and  make  our  abode  with  him."— Consequently 
the  next  portion  of  our  text : — 

Qd.  And  I  loili  pray  the  Father  and  he  shall  give  you  an- 
other comforter^  that  he  may  abide  mth  you  forever: 
The  time  of  our  blessed  Lord's  sojourn  upon  earth  was 
hastening  to  a  close;  it  was  striding  apacsto  the  period  when 
his  sufferings  should  be  brought  to  an  end  and  he  be  taken 
away  from  his  dear  disciples  and  followers,  to  a  dearer  father 
in  heaven — his  bowels  yearned  in  love  and  compassion  for 
them,  while  he  prepared  their  hearts  and  souls  to  withstand- 
and  endure  the  great  shock  which  would  necessarily  be  given 
to  their  faith,  and  to  console  them  he  tells  them  that  he  would 
pray  the  Father  to  give  them  another  comforter,  and  also 
that  it  was  expedient  for  them  that  he  did  go  away;  for  if  he 
did  not  go  away  the  comforter  would  not  come  unto  them, 
but  if  he  depaiied  he  would  send  him  unto  them.  He  thus?- 
as  the  great  physician,  administered  sweet  balm,  precious 
promises,  to  alleviate  their  sorrows  and  ccHisole  their  discon- 
solate hearts;  and  well  knowing  the  persecution  which  they 
would  meet  with,  he  makes  it  known  to  them  in  language  like 
to  the  following, — The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord; 
if  they  have  persecuted  me  they  will  persecute  you;  if  they 


THE  LOVE  OF  GOD.  73 

have  kept  my  sayings  they  will  keep  yours  also.  These 
words  must  have  had  the  desired  effect  upon  the  hearts  of 
his  disciples,  that  since  he,  their  Lord  and  Master  was  per- 
secuted and  reviled,  and  bore  it  with  patience,  it  became 
them  not  to  think  too  highly  of  themselves,  to  place  them- 
selves above  their  master,  but  to  prepare  their  minds  in  hu- 
mility to  endure  similar  or  even  greater  scoffs  and  persecu- 
tions through  love  to  him,  and  for  his  name's  sake,  and  the 
reward  attending  their  obedience,  to  inherit  the  mansions 
which  he  was  going  to  prepare,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

The  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  proceedeth 
from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  moved  on  the  face  of  the  wa- 
ters at  the  foundation  of  the  earth,  and  was  soon  to  descend 
and  move  in  the  souls  of  the  spiritual  foundation  of  Christ's 
church,  to  build  it  up  to  a  higher  state  of  perfection;  to  excite 
the  followers  of  Jesus  to  persevere  in  holiness,  to  perform 
the  duties  of  their  high  and  holy  calling,  to  adorn  the  doc- 
trine of  God  their  Saviour  in  all  things;  to  enable  them  to 
rejoice  on  their  pilgrimage  among  a  sinful  and  adulterous 
generation,  which  were  destitute  of  the  love  of  God  in  their 
hearts,  and  at  enmity  with  his  high  and  holy  purpose  of  sa- 
ving their  souls  through  the  atonement  of  Christ.  The 
spirit  of  God  was  therefore  of  all  importance  to  his  disciples, 
to  increase  their  hope  and  confidence,  and  confirm  their  faith 
in  their  Divine  Master,  amid  this  gainsaying,  crooked,  and 
perverse  people,  so  that  they  might  be  as  lights,  shining  and 
reflecting  the  love  and  glory  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  out 
of  dark  places,  yea  the  dark  places  of  the  earth,  where  the 
beast  has  his  habitations  and  workings  of  abomination,  to 
deceive  the  souls  of  the  unwary,  of  men,  yea,  ihe  very  elect 
if  possible;  but  God  in  his  wisdom,  has  erected  a  standard 
against  the  powers  of  darkness,  in  his  Son,  the  King  of 
Saints,  the  conqueror  of  sin,  death,  hell  and  the  devil;  thro' 
faith  in  him,  through  faith  in  Jesus,  his  saints  shall  overcome, 
quench  every  fiery  dart  of  their  enemies,  and  come  off  in 


74  THE  LOVE  OF  GOD. 

triumph  and  rejoicing:  and  this  faith  which  removes  moun- 
tains and  overcomes  all  opposition,  is  fanned  into  a  flame  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Comforter,  to  the  destruction  of  all  the 
works  of  Satan  in  the  soul,  and  cause  it  to  shine  with  increas- 
ed luster  and  glory,  to  the  honor  of  the  King  of  Glory. — 
VVe  shall  now  consider  the  last  part  of  our  discourse : — 
Even  the  spirit  of  truth  whom  the  world  cannot  receive^  be- 
cause it  seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth  him,  hut  ye  know 
him,  for  he  dwelleth  with  you  and  shall  he  in  you. 

The  Holy  Ghost  is  emphatically  the  spirit  of  truth,  for 
he  Cometh  from  the  God  of  truth,  and  his  Son,  who  is  the 
Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life,  and  applies  and  urges  the 
offers  of  salvation  upon  the  soul,  continues  the  work  therein, 
by  aiding  to  combat  the  lying  suggestions  of  Satan  to  nullify 
his  desception,  by  referring  the  soul  to  the  ti  uth  of  the  scrip- 
ture, to  certain  texts  or  portions  suitable  for  the  occasion 
to  bruise  the  serpent's  head.  That  scripture  which  was  also 
indited  by  the  Almighty  through  his  instrumentality,  dwelling 
in  his  prophets,  who  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  him,  and 
whose  words  therefore  always  bore  the  impress  of  truth,  and 
have  nearly  all  been  fulfilled:  for  instance,  the  prophecies 
concerning  our  blessed  Saviour  have  been  chiefly  fulfilled, 
that  is  those  in  the  Old  Testament  in  relation  to  him;  and  how 
many  thousands  have  been  fulfilled  and  are  daily  before  our 
eyes,  such  as  relate  to  sinners  and  their  relationship  to  God, 
and  the  judgments  visited  upon  them.  How  remarkable  was 
his  influence  in  the  prophet  Elijah  and  his  successor  iVJiciah 
to  detect  the  lying  spirit  in  four  hundred  men  who  liad  proph- 
ecied  lies  unto  Ahab,  and  how  sudden  and  exact  were  his 
words  fulfilled  upon  the  King.  Abraham  had  much  of  this 
blessed  spirit  lo  confirm  his  faith  and  build  him  up  in  holiness, 
and  David  the  Psalmist  possessed  him  in  an  eminent  degree, 
as  his  psalms  abundantly  testify;  and  Isaiah  to  be  prompt 
with  King  Hezekiah  in  his  sickness,  to  acquaint  him  with 
the  will  of  the  Lord  concerning  his  health  and  prolongation 


THE  LOVE   OF  GOD.  75- 

of  life,  and  to  waft  on  his  holy  pinions  the  sonl  of  the  proph- 
et to  I  he  regions  of  glory,  to  acquaint  him  more  fully  of  the 
designs  of  God  concerning  his  people  Israel;  and  to  present 
the  same  to  them  in  language  the  most  beautiful  and  sublime. 
His  peculiar  workings  in  Daniel,  excite  also  our  admiration. 
The  interpreting  of  dreams,  which  the  contrary  powers  were 
unable  to  do,  and  fortify  him  against  the  threats  of  the  King; 
to  obey  his  God  rather  than  man— and  of  peculiar  dreams 
which  he  dreamed,  and  visions  which  he  beheld;  the  same 
with  Ezra,  and  many  others  that  might  be  named,  who 
were  all  shining  constellations  in  the  spiritual  hemisphere, 
pervaded  and  illuminated  by  the  light  and  presence  of  this 
blessed  spirit  of  Glory. 

]n  due  time,  after  their  master  had  left  them,  had  been 
exalted  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour  at  the  right  hand  of  the  ma- 
jesty on  high,  the  promised  Comforter  was  sent  down  upon 
his  disciples,  and  sat  upon  them  as  cloven  tongues  of  fire;  and 
they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  began  to  speak 
w^ith  other  tongues  as  the  spirit  gave  them  utterance,  [read 
Acts,  2d  chapter.]  which  confounded  the  world,  and  induced 
them  to  rail  upon  the  Apostles,  as  it  is  written  they  could  not 
receive  him,  because  they  saw  him  not  neither  knew  him; 
they  knew  that  he  was  far  above  the  spirit  they  were  in  the 
habit  of  seeing,  and  had  familiarity  with;  therefore,  they  were 
enraged,  and  because  he  was  from  above  and  of  godly  origin, 
railed  upon  the  disciples;  some  mocked,  others  accused  them 
of  drunkenness;  but  by  the  boldness  of  Peter,  by  his  fearless 
language  in  accusing  them  of  the  murder  of  his  Master, 
whom  they  slew  and  hung  on  a  tree,  and  that  God  had  rais- 
ed his  Holy  One  that  he  should  not  see  corruption,  and  seated 
him  at  his  own  right  hand  eternal  in  the  heavens— and  that 
through  him  was  this  shed  abroad  into  their  hearts  and  souls, 
the  effects  they  saw,  bat  could  not  comprehend,  and  no  mar- 
vel, since  many  were  utter  strangers  to  God,  and  ignorant 
of  the  many  means  he  makes  use  of  to  bruise  Satan  under 
the  feet  of  the  Saints;  many  however,  were  pricked  in  their 


76  THE  LOVE  OF  GOD. 

hearts  and  exclaimed,  "  What  must  we  do  to  be  saved." — 
But  ihe  greater  part  coniinued  in  the  slavery  of  the  devil, 
their  father;  working,  and  conjuring  and  whoring  with  his 
filthy  spirits,  which  they,  knew  and  could  see,  being  akin  to 
them;  which  has  been  one  of  the  grossest  prevailing  sins  of 
almost  every  generation  from    the  commencement  of  the 
world;  and  of  kindling  the  anger  of  God  against  them,  and 
destroying  myriads  of  miserable  wretches  from  the  face  of 
the  earth,   as  unworthy  of  the  ground  which  bear  them;  to 
wit :  at  the  flood,  Sodom  and  Gomorrah;  for  the  same  offence, 
together  with  their  filthy  abominable  lewdness,  of  working 
one   with  another,  men  with  men,  that  which  is  a  shame 
even  to  think  of,  and  also  using  their  women  in  the  same 
way,  against  nature,  the  most  hellish  and  disgusting  crime 
for  which  people  were  ever  punished;  under  the  law  of  Mo- 
ses such  filthy  creatures  were  to  be  stoned  to  death,  immedi- 
ately, under  two  witnesses.     These  bloody,  stinking  Sodom 
ites  wanted  even  to  know  in  that  way,  in  preference  to  holy 
Lot's  daughters,  two  Virgins — two   of  our,  that  is  Christ's 
saint's  brethren— two  holy   angels,   directly  from  the  courts 
of  heaven,  whom  Almighty  God  sent  to  inquire  particularly 
into  the  case  of  these  filthy  creatures,  whether  the  report  of 
their  abominations  was  true,  which  had  reached  heaven — 
they  were  thus  set  upon  by  these  filthy  revellers,  and  God  to 
cleanse  his  nostrils  of  these  stinking  beasts,  sent  fire  and 
brimstone  from  heaven  in  ihe  morning  and  consumed  them 
with  every  thing  belonging  to  them,  from  out  of  his  sight, 
from  off  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  cursed  the  ground,  that  no 
one  iihould  walk  over  it  and  live  forever.     Since  then  one 
of  the  tribes  of  Israel  was  destroyed,  save  a  few  hundred — 
for  a  similar  ciime,  when  a  Levite,  a  sojourner  with  his  con- 
cubine, came  into  one  of  their  towns  to  lodge,  and  was  shel- 
tered by   an   humble,  but  God-fearing   man — similar  filthy 
devils  in  human  shape,  made  an  attack  upon  him  at  night, 
and  wanted,  right  or  wrong,  lost  to  all  decency,  shame  and 
fear  of  God     this  old  Levite  to  know  him,  (as  they  termed 


THE  LOVE  OF  GOD.  77 

it,)  and  could  scarcely  be  put  off  by  the  offer  of  his  wife  or 
concubine,  or  even  the  man's  daughter,  a  virgin,  where  he 
lodged;  however,  at  last,  when  they  found  they  could  not 
succeed  on  account  of  a  higher  power  in  opposition  to  their 
puny  carcasses  and  fihhy  spirits  of  hell,  they  were  contented 
to  take  the  concubine,  and  did  take  her  and  use  her  about 
town  ail  night;  in  the  morning  she  was  dead,  &  that  in  a  more 
filthy  and  beastly  way  than  dogs,  puppies,  or  swine  would 
have  intercourse  with  those  of  their  own  species;  which  were 
never  known  to  do   against  nature  or  be  so  dirty,  although 
their  season  is  but  once  a  year — at  least  i  have  never  heard 
or  read  of  it;  1  beheve  1  may  safely  defy  the  leaders  under 
the  devil,  of  this  abomination,  to  sliow  satisfactorily,  that 
swme  or  dogs,  or  any  other  of  God's  animals,  or  creeping 
things  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  are  so  infernal   dirty,  and 
abominably  fiUhy;  they  cannot  do  it,  I  defy  them  befoie  God 
and  Christ,  the  judge  before  whom  they  luust  appear  shortly. 
The  light  judgments  which  the  Lord  God  sert  upon  the  earth 
from  time  to  time,  only  excited  the  hatred  and  malice  of  men 
and  caused  them,  if  possible,  to  be  more  dirty  and  abomina- 
ble, more  filthy  in  his  nose,  and  caused  the  land  to  mourn  on 
account  of  their  slink,  their  abusing  each  others  bodies, — 
he-dog  with  hedog.     Undoubtedly  they  were,  and  still  are, 
those  doing  so,  the  very  swine  and  dogs  mentioned  in  our 
Lord,  the  Judge's  sermon  on  the  Mount,  because  they  tram- 
ple his  blood  and  the  holy  things  under,  and  have  the  biasCs 
mark  upon   their  foreheads;  and   therefore,  no  wonder  they 
know  not  Christ  nor  his  blessed  spirit,  dwelling  in  his  saints, 
of  whom,  thank  God  my  Saviour,  1  am  one;  and  should  1  be 
the  only  one  in  this  wicked  nation,  (as  some  of  them  at  times 
intimate)  despised  and  persecuted — as  also  my  master  was, 
by  the  powers  of  darkness  and  hell — for  his  righteousness 
and  holy  name's  sake,  they  may  know,  (if  it  affords  them  any 
comfort,)  that  1  shall  remain  firm  and  faithful  to  my  Lord 
and  Master,  and  as  heretofore,  yea  even  to  a  greater  degree, 
rejoice  m  him,  serve  him  in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  my 


78  THE  LOVE  OF  GOD. 

days  here  on  earth,  and  then  in  heaven  1  will  do  it  to  still 
greaier  perfection  forever  and  ever,  where  no  devil  and  such 
filthy  creatures  combined,  can  vex  the  saints  of  the  Most 
Hi^h  by  their  cursed  filthiness;  and  may  this  also  confirm 
my  brethren,  they  that  follow  Christ  in  holiness,  if  there  are 
any  surh,  that  when  these  rebellious  creatures  say  unto  them 
"S-ek  unto  them  that  have  familiar  spirits,  and  unto  wizards 
that  peep  and  that  mutter."  They  may  answer,  *'should 
not  a  people  seek  unto  their  God  for  the  living  to  the  dead." 
[Isaiah,  8th  chap.  1 9th  verse.]  They  may  also  bring  to  their 
minds  the  parts  above  and  hundreds  of  others,  of  the  des- 
truction of  such  characters,  if  it  will  afford  them  any  com- 
fort, since  they  seem  to  thir.st  after  hell,  to  become  as  dung 
upon  the  earth.  This  and  every  other  nation,  proud  and  up- 
lift td  as  they  are,  shall  be  brought  down  to  the  ground— i^ 
they  continue  in  abominable  idolatry,  sorcery,  &c. — they 
shall  ail  be  brought  even  into  hell,  where  there  is  wailing  and 
gnashing  of  teeih  forever  and  ever;  without  any  thing  to  eat 
or  drink,  or  cool  the  scorched  blasphemous  tongues  of  her 
inmates,  where  there  is  no  rest  day  nor  night,  no  Sabbath  to 
pollute  by  their  wickedness,  but  where  the  devil  and  all  his 
filthy  legions  have  their  polluted,  bloody  carcasses  and  souls 
tormented  with  fire  and  briiTistone  forever  and  ever;  they  will 
there  receive  due  reward  for  their  stinking  like  dung  in  Christ's 
and  his  saint's  noses,  and  delighting  in  their  filthiness.  Be- 
ware my  brethren  that  ye  partake  not  of  their  sins;  let  our 
hands  be  clean,  let  their  blood  be  upon  their  own  heads  that 
we  come  not  with  them  into  that  place  of  torment.  We 
know  in  whom  we  believe,  and  we  know  his  spirit  also  which 
keepeth  our  hearts  in  that  peace  which  passeth  all  under, 
standing,  which  the  world  cannot  give  nor  take  from  us,  and 
which  shall  endure  and  increase  in  heaven  forevermore.  Be 
not  deceived  by  these  lying  and  conjuring  spirits  of  devils,  of 
which  the  earth  is  full;  this  Anti-Chnst,of  the  last  days;  this 
universal  wickedness  as  at  the  time  of  the  destruction  of  the 
ungodly  by  the  flood,   and  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  with  fire 


THE  LOVE  OF  GOD.  79 

and  brimstone.  Stand  aloof,  and  cr}^  woe  unto  all  that  do 
these  things.  "Wo  unto  the  rebellious  children,  saith  the 
Lord,  that  take  counsel,  but  not  of  me;  and  that  cover  with* 
a  coveritig,  but  not  of  my  spirit,  that  they  may  add  sin  to 
sin."  [Isaiah,  30th  chap.  10th  ver.  Wo!!  Wo!!!  Wo!!!! 
to  all  that  put  the  Lord  God  out  of  their  hearts,  and  will 
have  none  of  his  holiness,  that  will  not  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come,  for  the  day  of  Jehovah  is  near  at  hand.  He  is 
coming!  He  is  coming  to  judge  the  earth;  in  righteousness  he 
will  judge  the  world.  Then  shall  he  say  unto  his  Saints 
and  Annointed  enter  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord,  inherit  the 
kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  commencement  of  the 
world.  A  nd  to  them  that  never  sought  or  cared  to  know  him 
or  his  spirit,  that  they  might  be  saved — Depart  from  me  ye 
cursed  into  the  fire  and  torments  prepared  for  the  devil  and 
his  angels,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.     Amen. 


DISCOURSE  VII. 

ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

^5  it  is  written,  there  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one: 

There  is  none  that  under standeth,  there  is  none  that  seeketh 

after  God. 
They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they  are  together  become  un- 

profitable;  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one. 

Romans,  3d  chapter,  lOth,  Wth  ^^  \'2th  verses. 

I  have  shown  in  former  discourses  the  impossibility  of 
pleasing  God  without  hoUness,  for  he  expressly  says,  be  ye 
as  1  am,  ''Holy;'''  and  as  for  any  other  righteousness  than  the 
righteousness  of  Chript,  it  is  all  a  fable;  diametrically  oppo- 
sed to  the  tenor  of  Divine  Revelation,  as  respects  honor 
and  worship  to  God,  hateful  to  him  who  is  a  pure  and  holy 
Being,  worthy  of  all  adoration  and  praise,  and  cannot,  there- 
fore, be  reverenced  and  worshipped  contraiy  to  his  known 
will  and  express  declaration,  which  is,  through  the  righte- 
ousness in  Christ,  "  Even  the  righteousness  of  God,  which  is 
by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all,  and  upon  all  them  that  be- 
lieve; for  there  is  no  difference;  for  all  have  sinned,  and 
come  short  of  the  Glory  of  God."  God  is  no  respecter  of 
persons,  but  every  soul  that  sir.neth  it  shall  die;  but  now 
there  is  a  remedy  provided  in  the  righteousness  of  Christ, 
that  every  soul  that  sinneth  may  live,  by  timely  repentance 
unto  God  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  God  has  in- 
cluded all  under  sin,  in  consequence  of  Adam's  transgres- 
sion— that  the  whole  world  might  become  guilty  before 
Him.  Therefore,  by  self-righteousness  and  the  deeds  of  the 
law — no  one  even  does'lhem — shall  no  flesh  be  justified 
in  his  sight ;  for  by  the  law  is  the  knowledge  of  sin.  "  But 
now  the  righteousness  of  God  without  the  law  is  manifested, 


ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  81 

being  witnessed  by  the  law  and  the  prophets.  Although 
hundreds  may  think  themselves  good  and  moral  men,  be- 
cause they  attend  to  some  outward  things  enjoined  upon  all 
as  (ar  as  may  be  in  their  power,  such  as  to  hear  the  word  of 
God  on  the  Sabbaths,  giving  a  trifle  to  the  poor,  and  many 
other  minor  things  which  they  attend  to  even  with  strict- 
ness ;  but  at  the  same  time  pass  over  the  weightier  matter 
of  their  soul's  justification  before  God,  through  the  righteous- 
ness which  is  in  Christ ;  because  they  commit  no  gross  out- 
ward sin,  they  are  induced  to  rely  on  their  own  morality, 
consisting  in  deeds  of  charity  and  formality  in  religion ;  flat- 
tering their  souPs  with  the  hope  that  they  may  even  stand 
before  Christ  in  the  judgment,  contrary  to  the  word  of  God, 
"there  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one." 

In  these  dreadful  times  of  degeneration,  of  mere  formality 
in  the  church,  without  the  spirit  and  power  of  godliness,  bat 
amalgamation  with  the  spirit  of  the  infidelity  of  the  world. 
It  may  not  be  amiss  to  dwell  on  this  fundamental  doctrine, 
'*  the  righteousness  of  Christ,"  which  is  so  Ireely  promised 
to  justify  the  truly  repenting  sinner  before  God;  when  he 
loaihes  himself,  and  abhors  sin,  and  accounts  himself  un- 
worthy with  all  his  deeds  and  self-righteousness  to  appear 
before  so  holy  and  pure  a  Being,  in  comparison  of  whom  he 
is  as  filthy  as  dung;  when  he  thus  knows  himself  to  be  vile 
and  undone,  a  child  of  hell,  and  under  the  wrath  of  the 
Almighty,  to  be  sent  thither  at  his  option  or  spared  by  his 
mercy ;  he  casts  himself,  in  humility,  in  the  dust  before  his 
Maker,  and  implores  his  divine  clemency;  confesses  as  just 
mentioned,  his  sms,  filthiness,  and  undone  state,  cries  inces- 
santly for  mercy!  mercy!!  pardon!  pardon!!  and  for  forgive- 
ness of  sins  for  Jesus'  sake;  pleading  his  merit,  and  righte- 
ousness, and  the  virtue  of  his  precious  blood,  to  be  cleansed 
from  all  sins  and  iniquity ;  purified  unto  God  one  of  his  pe- 
culiar people  ;  fully  justified,  and  the  righteousness  of  Christ 
imputed  unto  him.  Then  he  will  find  himself  a  new  crea- 
ture 5  one  who  has  put  off  the  old  man  and  put  on  the  new, 

8 


82  ON  RIGGTEOUSNESS. 

whicli  after  God,  through  Christ,  is  created  in  righteousness 
and  true  holiness. 

The  sinner  thus  renovated,  regenerated  and  justified  be- 
fore God,  will  find  himself  agreeably  relieved  from  the 
mountain  load  of  iniquity  and  guilt  which  before  pressed 
his  wretched  soul  and  caused  him  to  groan  under  it.  He 
moves,  as  it  were,  in  a  holier  atmosphere,  breathing  a  sweet- 
er air — and  as  the  sky-lark  in  the  morning  sun — breaks  forth 
in  singing  the  high  praises  of  God  his  Saviour,  in  the  light 
of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  shining  in  his  heart  and  illumin- 
ating his  soul ;  and  through  faith  in  the  Son  of  God  he  beholds 
the  luster  and  glory  of  heaven,  of  the  holy  of  holies,  with  all 
his  brethren,  the  sons  of  light  surrounding  the  throne  of  Je- 
hovah. Yes,  verily,  he  can  now  claim  kindred  to  the  Holy 
Angels  and  Saints  on  high;  being  born  and  adopted  into  the 
household  of  God,  a  son  and  an  heir  of  glory.  His  delight 
is  in  the  things  pertaining  to  eternal  life  and  profitable  unto 
godliness,  and  his  conversation  is  in  heaven,  where  also  his 
treasure  is,  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
never,  never  fades  away. 

Thus  you  see  the  unspeakable  advantage  the  true  chris- 
tion  has  over  the  sinner  and  the  infidel ;  he  is  at  once  sure 
of  the  "hfe  that  now  is  and  of  that  which  is  to  come ;"  and 
stands  unmoved  at  the  occurrences  which  make  the  unbe- 
lievers tremble  and  quake  by  beholding :  he  knows  that  he 
who  has  the  destiny  of  the  earth,  world,  of  the  universe, 
at  the  wink  of  his  eye,  is  his  brother,  is  his  Father,  and 
therelore,  nothing  can  harm  him.  The  untoward  appearance 
of  every  thing  will  be  over-ruled  by  his  Almighty  friend  to 
work  for  him  a  ''  far  more  exceednig  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory,  whilst  he  looks  not  at  the  things  that  are  seen,  but  at 
the  things  that  are  not  seen  ;  for  the  things  that  are  seen  are 
temporal,  but  the  things  that  are  not  seen  are  eternal." 

As  it  is  with  one  individual,  so  with  a  whole  community, 
and  likewise  so  with  a  whole  nation,  who  after  having  put 
away  the  fear  and  reverence  of  God,  disliking  to  keep  him 


ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS  S3 

in  remembrance  until  they  become  utterly  estranged  from 
him,  and  confirmed  in  their  unbelief  and  wickedness,  God 
sees  proper  to  send  judgments  upon  them  to  turn  them  from 
the  error  of  their  ways;  and  if  then  they  humble  themselves 
individually,  as  stated  already,  or  collectively  as  a  commu- 
nity or  nation,  they  may  be  blessed  with  the  same  pardon 
and  justification  through  our  blessed  Saviotir  Jesus  Christ, 
and  be  re- instated  to  the  favor  and  holy  image  of  God,  and 
flourish  in  the  light  of  his  countenance,  and  walk  with  him 
in  righteousness  and  holiness,  and  have  the  same  interest  in 
Him ;  and  therefore,  as  little  to  fear  at  the  commotion  of 
other  nations  when  the  Lord  sends  war,  pestilence  and  fam- 
ine to  shake  terribly  the  earth,  "  because  they  have  made  the 
Lord  their  refuge,  and  the  most  High  their  habitation." 

The  true  christian  can  always  triumph  and  rejoice  on  his 
pilgrimage  here  below ;  following  in  the  foot  steps  of  his 
Divine  Master:  led  on  by  the  holy  spirit  of  God,  conquering 
and  to  conquer  He  will  now^  have  |more  fighting  to  do 
than  he  ever  had  in  his  Me  before — against  his  spiritual  ene- 
mies, however,  which  will  be  all  arrayed  against  him;  led  on 
by  Satan,  the  Prince  of  hell  and  darkness,  in  whose  train  fol- 
low all  that  are  not  born  from  above — a  vast  number  in  these 
times  ot  infidelity  and  ungodliness  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
thirty-nine,  three  hundred  years  after  the  reformation,  when 
bibles  and  testaments  are  so  abundant,  two  or  three  to  be 
found  in  almost  every  family ;  yet,  where  are  the  Saints? 
where  are  the  men  after  God's  own  heart?  where  are  they 
that  delight  in  God  and  hate  Satan,  that  are  grieved  at  the 
wickedness  of  the  age,  and  walk  with  God  in  holiness,  and 
seek  to  do  all  for  his  glory,  and  to  extend  the  Kedeemer's 
church  and  kingdom  over  the  whole  earth  ?  There  are 
some  surh,  but  the  probability  is  the  number  is  very  small. 
Has  then  the  word  of  God  lost  its  healing  and  saving  effi- 
cacy, and  the  costly,  the  holy  blood  of  Jesus,  its  virtue,  its 
power  to  cleanse  from  all  iniquity?  Ah,  no!  It  is  yet  as  pow- 
erful as  at  the  very  beginning  when  it  was  sounded  forth, 


^4  ON  RrGHTEOTJSNESU 

''LET  THERE  BE  LIGHT! '  and  there  was  LIGHTS 
and  since  then  unto  the  present  time  hundreds  and  thou- 
sands, yea  millions  have  been  by  it,  applied  by  the  holy 
spirit,  called  out  of  the  spiritual  darkness  into  this  marvel- 
lous light,  'Uke  light  of  the  gospel ^''^  to  know  their  sins  for- 
given through  Jesus  and  his  righteousness,  and  that  he  was 
their  Saviour,  and  beside  him  there  is  none  other ;  and  they 
eould  exclaim,  "  My  Lord  and  My  Godl"  And  thanks  be 
to  my  blessed  God  and  Saviour,  so  can  some  now,  even 
now;  but  as  mentioned  before,  they  are  undoubtedly  very 
few.  But  why  now  so  few?  Because  Satan  always  had  some 
champions  in  the  field,  and  in  these  latter  days  they  have 
made  dreadful  work  by  sowing  tares  among  the  wheat,  and 
as  the  Lord  gathered  some  of  the  slieaves  of  wheat  into  his 
garner,  but  the  tares  remained — as  there  shall  only  be  a  final 
separation  on  the  last  day— the  general  ingathering  of  the 
Lord's  own — and  have  multiplied  awfully  since,  so  that  the 
wheat  is  now  scattered,  and  not  so  many  in  sheaves  as  there 
have  been  at  times ;  but  that  which  now  remains,  some  how- 
ever, is  of  the  firmest  quality,  having  been  tried  as  by  fire  and 
water,  and  it  still  endures,  and  what  is  more,  it  improves  in 
quality ;  a  sure  proof  that  the  word  of  the  {food  Lord  is 
as  efficacious  and  powerful  as  ever.  Now  therefore,  my 
brethren,  if  there  be  any  in  Christ,  be  undismayed,  be  firm 
and  persevering  in  the  hfe  of  Godliness,  and  the  blessed 
spirit  will  perfect  you  by  sanctificalion  and  all  the  blessings 
of  the  redemption  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 
And  if  any  shall  or  have  just  set  out — have  put  their  hands 
to  the  plough,  let  them  not  look  back  that  they  be  unworthy 
of  the  Lord,  but  be  your  course  onward  under  the  banner 
of  Jesus,  and  in  the  strength  of  the  Almighty,  ye  shall  do 
valiently»  He  it  is  that  subdues  our  enemies,  internal  as 
well  as  external ;  by  creating  within  us  holy  tempers  from 
time  to  time  by  his  holy  spirit,  enabling  us  to  progress  con- 
tinually in  holiness,  and  to  love  him  with  a  perfect  heart 
find  bring  every  affection  into  the  obedience  of  Christ,  so 


ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  S$ 

msto  be  crucified  with  him  unto  the  world,  but  aUve  unto  God. 
And  being  thus  estabhshed,  strengthened  and  fortified  by  the 
everlasting  arms,  we  are  secure  as  to  the  outward  enemies, 
whose  threats  fall  harmless  at  our  feet;  and  should  they  be 
even  permittei  to  persecute  us  wi!h  vigor,  with  hellish  ma- 
lice full;  even  to  the  extent  of  depriving  us  of  an  earihly 
existence  "  Fear  not  him  that  has  power  only  to  destroy 
the  body  and  can  do  no  more;  but  continue  to  fear  him 
who,  when  he  has  destroyed,  has  power  to  cast  into  hell ; 
yea,  I  say  unto  you,  fear  him."  says  our  blessed  Master,  to 
warn  us  not  to  faint  by  the  way  at  such  trifles.  If  our  love 
should  become  low,  perfect  love  casts  out  all  fear,  persecu- 
tion has  a  tendency  to  fan  it  into  a  flame  to  burn  more  fer- 
vently, so  that  our  hearts  desire  will  rather  be,  to  be  absent 
from  the  body,  and  to  be  present  with  the  Lord ;  who  dwel- 
ling in  us,  will  enable  us  to  exult  and  rejoice  that  we  are 
accounted  worthy  to  suffer  for  his  name's  sake  and  to  glorify 
him;  and  we  shall  t'iumph  even  in  death  itself,  and  holy 
Angels  shall  escort  our  redeemed  souls  into  the  regions  of 
light,  life,  and  bliss,  to  live  with  our  Holy  Father  in  heaven 
forevermore. 

"  There  is  none  that  under standeth^  there  is  none  that  seeketk 
after  God.''''  The  all-wise,  beneficent  Creator  and  Ruler  of 
the  universe,  when  he  formed  man  of  the  dust  of  the  earthy 
he  endowed  him  with  faculties  far  above  the  most  intelligent 
of  his  earthly  creatures,  and  after  breathing  into  his  nostrils 
the  breath  of  life,  man  became  a  living  soul ;  an  immortal 
spirit;  an  intelligent  being  to  hold  sweet  converse  with  his 
Maker,  with  his  Father,  which  was  a  privdege  the  other 
creatures  were  not  blessed  with,  but  were  subordinate  to 
him,  and  he  reigned  over  them  as  their  Lord  and  Master, 
and  called  them  by  name  in  his  wisdom  and  understanding, 
well  pleasing  to  his  Creator.  He  was  holy  and  intelligent, 
and  flourished  in  the  sun-shine  and  glory  of  his  Almighty 
Father  ;  and  while  he  thus  continued  to  exercise  his  supe- 
rior intellect  to  the  obedience  of  God,  he  remained  in  his 


86  ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

favor  and  was  altogether  holy  and  happy  ;  but  as  soon  as  he 
failed  in  this  his  duty,  he  fell ;  his  understanding  became 
confused,  and  he  becauje  degraded  below  the  perfect,  holy 
Iniage  of  God,  whom  to  know,  to  love,  and  to  obey  with  all 
the  heart,  and  to  depart  from  all  iniquity,  is  true  wisdom 
and  understanding — ^which  ho  now  found  himself  unable  to 
do,  but  prone  to  do  evd,  and  that  continually ;  the  conse- 
quence of  which  was,  his  expulsion  out  of  Paradise ;  yes, 
God  drove  him  out  of  his  presence,  and  entailed  a  curse 
upon  him  to  the  latest  posterity.  In  mercy,  he  however, 
also  ordained  ways  and  means  through  which,  by  the  exer- 
cise of  his  understanding  he  might  again  return  to  God;  be 
re-instated  to  his  favor  and  holy  Image,  and  finally,  be  re- 
ceived into  a  Paradise,  even  greater  than  the  one  he  had 
forfeited ;  which  privilege  was  also  extended  to  his  descend- 
ants to  the  latest  posterity. 

As  in  Adam  all  die,  so  in  Christ  are  all  made  alive.  "F'of 
God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life."  Yea,  Jesus  has  become  the  propitiation 
that  through  faith  in  Him  we  may  live  in  an  eternal  Para- 
dise with  Him,  be  even  more  blessed  then  Adam  was  ere 
the  fall,  because  we  shall  be  in  the  immediate  presence  cf 
our  P'ather  with  the  holy  Angels,  surrounding  him  in  his 
glory ;  play  on  golden  harps  and  lyres,  and  sing  HosannasI 
and  Hallelujahs!!  unto  God  and  the  Liamb  forever  and  ever. 

I  have  been  reviewing  the  present  state  of  mankind  in 
my  former  discourses,  apj^lying  some  portions  of  scripture, 
as  my  blessed  Father  aided  me  by  his  holy  spirit,  for  their 
instruction  and  benefit ;  and  may  my  labor  noi  be  altogeth- 
er in  vain  in  the  Lord  to  excite  this  people,  this  nation,  to  a 
right  course  of  action  to  save  themselves  singly  and  com- 
bined from  disgrace  and  ruin — not  only  temporal  but  eternal. 
How  is  it  that  none  understand,  that  none  seek  after  God  ? 
Is  it  because  understanding  consists  in  love,  fear,  holiness 
and  obedience  unto  God?  and  ye  are  prone  to  evil  and  delight 


ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  87 

in  inquity,  and  will  not  have  him  to  reign  over  you  because 
your  deeds  are  evil — ye  love  darkness  rather  than  light,  and 
will  not  come  to  the  light  lest  your  deeds  of  darkness  will 
be  reproved,  made  manifest,  and  ye  might  become  convict- 
ed of  your  abominable  crimes ;  made  ashamed,  yea,  ye 
might  become  converted,  and  Christ  might  heal  you  ;  and  if 
so,  would  this  be  a  great  disparagement  to  your  poor  miser- 
able souls,  to  be  thus  snatched  as  brands  from  everlasting 
burnings ;  "h'om  hell,  which  hath  enlarged  herself, and  opened 
her  mouth  without  measure;  and  their  glory,  and  their  multi- 
tude, and  their  pomp,  and  he  that  rejoiceth,  shall  descend 
into  it." — Isaiah.  Because  the  blessed  God  is  all  light,  and 
there  is  no  darkness  at  all  in  him,  ye  must  needs  hate  himi 
persecute  him  in  his  followers ;  and  serve  Satan  with  all 
your  might — who  has  been  the  cause  of  all  the  misery  and 
wretchedness  the  whole  creation  has  been  groaning  under 
ever  since  he  succeeded  m  deceiving  our  first  parents  in 
Paradise.  Are  ye  therefore  reasonable  in  doing  so?  Cer- 
tainly not.  Ye  abuse  the  intellectual  faculties  inherent  in 
you,  and  awful  will  be  your  predicament  when  the  Lord  the 
Judge,  will  summons  you  to  give  account  for  the  talent  he 
had  vested  in  you — he  will  be  unable  to  invite  you  into  the 
joy  of  our  Lord  with  those  that  improved  their  talent  to  his 
glory ;  but  will  be  compelled  to  command  that  you  be  as 
wicked  and  slothful  servants,  "  cast  into  outer  darkness, 
where  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth." 

God  is  no  respecter  of  persons ;  the  soul  that  sinneth  it 
shall  die.  But  now  there  is  a  remedy  through  our  blessed 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  which  is  on  this  wise — the  soul  that 
believes  it  shall  live ;  that  is  not  as  devils  believe,  for  it 
makes  them  tremble — but  a  lively  faith  in  him  that  he  is  the 
only  and  the  all-sufficient  Saviour  of  mankind ;  that  his 
blood  cleanses  from  all  sin ;  a  faith  which  works  by  love 
and  casts  out  all  fear ;  because  through  him  is  a  deadness 
to  sin  and  perfect  reconciliation  with  God,  and  they  that 


88  ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

have  him  as  their  friend  and  Father,  have  not  much  to  be 
afraid  of  neither  in  time  nor  in  eternity. 

"  Through  w^isdom  is  a  house  builded ;  and  by  under- 
standing it  is  established;  and  by  knowledge  shall  the 
chambers  be  filled  with  all  precious  and  pleasant  riches." — 
(Prov.,  24th  chap.,  3d  &  4th  verses.)  Now  this  nation  may 
be  likened  unto  a  house,  being  divided  into  states,  answer- 
ing to  the  chambers  thereof.  Therefore,  let  every  slate 
learn  its  duty  from  these  words  of  Solomon,  and  aid  in' 
building  up  this  house,  this  nation,  which  is  on  the  decline 
and  must  be  re-established,  or  it  will  totter  until  it  finally 
falls,  and  its  destruction  be  complete.  And  now  if  any  man 
lacks  wisdom,  according  to  the  Apostle, ''let  him  ask  of 
God,  who  gives  liberally  and  upbraideth  not."  This,  there- 
fore, and  understanding,  are  the  two  articles  or  qualities 
absolutely  necessary  to  save  this  house,  this  nation  from 
utter,  trom  eternal  ruin.  And  as  "  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is 
wisdom,  and  to  depart  fiom  iniquity  is  understanding"-^- 
why  not  speedily  attend  to  these  things?  Why  not  cease 
trampling  your  own  laws  under  foot?  applied  to  every  state 
in  the  nation.  But,  awful  1  awful!!  the  laws  of  the  Omnip- 
otent, holy  God,  and  the  precious  blood  of  Jesus — which  was 
shed  for  the  remission  of  your  sins — but  which  you  thus 
dispose  of,  and  glory  in  your  shame ;  you  may  rest  assured 
the  Almighty  does  not  wink  at  your  dreadful  course  of 
wickedness — of  having  put  him  out  of  your  remembrance 
and  bowing  to  strange  gods,  unto  Baal.  There  is  no  other 
alternative  but  for  you  to  repent,  and  humble  yourselves 
under  the  mighty  arm  of  God.  Implore  the  clemency  of  the 
King  of  Kings,  that  he  may  mercifully  and  graciously  spare 
you  and  teach  you  true  wisdom,  understanding  and  knowl- 
edge, that  ye  may  endure;  be  firmly  established  on  the  Rock 
of  Ages ;  and  that  your  chambers  (sub-divided  into  every 
heart  of  each  state,)  may  be  filled  with  the  truly  precious 
and  pleasant  riches ;  the  knowledge  of  salvation  in  the  re- 
mission of  your  sins,  through  the  riches  of  the  redemption  of 


ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  89 

our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  fruits  thereof; 
faith,  love,  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

^''They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way^  they  are  together  become 
unprofitable'^  there^s  none  that  doeth  good^  no,  not  one.''''  Jesus 
Christ  our  blessed  Saviour  declares,"!  am  the  Way,  the 
Truth,  and  the  Life."  Therefore,  to  love  him,  believe  in  him, 
keep  his  words  and  commandments,  is  to  walk  in  the  \vB,y 
to  eternal  life  and  felicity ;  but  to  deny  him,  disregard  his 
words  and  commands  and  be  ungrateful  for  the  salvation 
he  accomplished  on  Mount  Calvary  ;  live  in  a  course  of  sin 
and  iniquity,  is  certainly  a  gross  departure  out  of  the  true 
way  as  laid  down  and  pointed  out  in  Holy  Writ;  which 
is  a  way  of  holiness,  and  its  paths  are  peace,  and  lead  into 
the  Paradise  of  God,  described  in  such  glowing  language, 
the  reality  of  the  beauties  of  which  enrapture  us,  but  are  far 
above  our  comprehension,  to  conceive  them  with  anything 
like  perfection;  wherein  also  is  the  *'  Holy  of  Holies,"  where 
the  Mystic  Deity  is  enthroned  in  Gloiy,  surrounded  by  the 
sons  of  light,  reflecting  his  transcendent  lustre,  and  with 
golden  harps  cause  the  etherial  dome  to  resound  with  his 
praise.  Here  in  this  hallowed  and  sanctified  expanse  is  the 
eternal  home  of  all  the  redeempd  of  the  Lord,  the  Saints  of 
God,  which  have  come  thither  by  the  true  way  and  entered 
in  at  the  straight  gate,  which  is  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ.  To  be  contrary  and  deny  him,  as  1  slated  before,  is 
to  be  far,  far  out  of  the  way,  and  on  the  broad  road  leading 
into  the  dark  and  horrible  gulph  of  despair,  where  Sataa 
the  infernal  demon,  has  his  abode,  surrounded  by  his  legions 
of  dark  spirits,  and  all  that  wander  on  this  dangerous  way, 
until  ushered  over  the  verge  of  time,  and  plunged  inio  this 
pit  of  fire  and  brimstone,  this  home  of  devils  where  there  is 
no  rest  day  nor  night,  forever  and  ever. 

They  are  altogether  become  unprofitable;  Even  the  most 
holy,  zealous,  and  faithful  christians,  by  walking  with  God 
unblameably,  do  nothing  more  than  that  which  is  enjoined 
upon  them  and  their  duty,  and  are  but  little  more  than  un- 


90  ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

profitable  servants;  they  are  however  welcomed  into  the  joy 
of  our  Lord,  not  because  of  their  works,  but  through  faith 
in  Jesus,  who  is  the  true  and  only  way  to  glory,  and  if  they 
who  have  his  righteousness  imputed  unto  them  are  scarcely 
saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly  and  the  sinners  appear?  who 
abuse  the  talents  he  committed  unto  them;  they  not  only  sup- 
press them  or  cause  them  to  lay  obscure;  without  doing  good 
to  the  Lord  for  the  extension  of  his  kingdom  throughout  the 
earth,  but  they  employ  them  in  the  cause  of  his  adversary, 
and  their  own  decided,  bitter,  and  cruel  enemy,  the  murder- 
er of  their  souls;  they  serve  him  day  and  night  with  all  their 
might;  and  this  is  so  general  throughout  the  land,  that  the 
words  are  very  appropriate,  "they  are  together  become  un- 
profitable, there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one."  And 
therefore  I  do  not  marvel  at  the  slight  judgments  of  famine* 
or  at  least  half-crops  for  the  last  five  or  six  years;  so  that  year 
before  last  hundreds  and  tliousands  were  fed  by  the  Almigh- 
ty with  the  production  of  other  countries;  which  in  itself 
ought  to  humble  the  pride  of  this  nation  and  every  one  be- 
longing to  it.  What  the  merciful  Lord  (his  mercy  spared 
you  thus)  will  farther  do,  a  few  years  will  reveal;  certain  it 
is  that  he  is  not  yet  satisfied  w  ith  you,  and  never  can  be  un- 
til you  repent. 

Let  me,  who  wishes  you  well,  for  your  soul's  sake,  unde- 
ceive you  by  informing  you  of  these  things,  and  that  you 
cannot  deceive  Him  who,  although  invisible,  is  present 
everywhere,  and  knows  all  things  in  heaven  and  on  earth, 
even  "your  heat  ts  afar  off;"  and  that  tiie  thoughts  of  them 
are  evil  and  that  continually,  and  that  there  is  no  good  in 
you.  Therefore  your  cold,  formal  worship,  and  cry  of  re- 
vival here  and  revival  there,  will  avail  you  nothing,  but 
increase  your  damnation  which  slumbers  not;  for  if  ye  have 
made  the  trees  ^ood  how  comes  it  that  they  bear  evil  and 
pernicious  fruit?  Be  not  deceived,  God  is  not  mocked;  these 
things  may  do  to  deceive  at  a  distance,  and  serve  the  devil  a 
good  turn,  which  may  be  your  object,  but  you  will  not  quite 


ON  RIGHTEOUSNESS.  91 

deceive  the  "very  elect,"  much  less  their  Father,  to  whose 
further  mercj  1  must  now  again  commend  you,  and  pray 
that  through  the  merit  which  is  in  and  througli  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  as  Saviour  and  Mediator,  ye  may  j^et  be  spared — 
awhile  at  least — and  if  not  all,  hundreds  and  thousands,  yea 
millions  may  find  through  Him,  salvation  and  joy,  and  peace, 
and  a  final  rest  for  their  souls  in  the  Paradise  ol  God. — 
To  whom  be  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory, 
forever  and  ever.     Amen,  Amen. 


DISCOURSE   VIII. 

ON    REPENTANCE. 

Then  said  he  to  the  multitude  that  came  forth  to  be  baptised 
of  him^  O  generation  of  vipers,  who  hath  warned  you  to 
fee  from  the  wrath  to  come  ? 

Bring  forth  therefore  fruits  worthy  of  repentance,  and  begin 
not  to  say  within  yourselves,  we  have  Abraham  to  our 
Father',  for  I  say  untoyou^  That  God  is  able  of  these  stones 
to  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham, 

And  now  also  the  axe  is  laid  at  the  root  of  the  trees,  every  tree 
therefore,  that  bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn  down 
and  cast  into  the  f  re.  [Luke,  3d  Chapter, 

John,  the  forerunner  of  our  blessed  Lord,  by  the  providence 
of  God,  was  born  some  months  prior  to  the  Prince  of  life, 
and  hke  him,  his  parents  had  to  leave  Judea  to  save  his  life 
in  consequence  of  the  decree  of  King  Herod,  for  the  des- 
truction of  all  the  male  population  of  two  years  an  1  under. 
After  his  parent's  death  he  continued  his  sojourn  in  the  des- 
ert, subsisting  upon  locusts  and  wild  honey,  his  raiment  being 
of  camel's  hair  with  a  leathern  girdle  about  his  loins  accord- 
ing to  custom — some  writers,  however,  affirm  that  he  was 
miraculously  fed  and  clothed  by  the  angels  ol  the  Lord,  that 
they  were  his  companions  and  administered  unto  him.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  the  blessed  God  supported  and  matured  him, 
by  his  divine  providence,  for  a  great  v*^ork  and  to  suffer  in 
his  cause;  and  we  also  know,  because  the  word  of  the  God 
of  truth  informs  us — "  That  the  Holy  Angels  are  minister- 
ing spirits  sent  forth  to  minister  unto  them  that  shall  be  heirs 
of  salvation:"  and  that  they  personally,  visibly  and  vision- 
arily  appeared  to  some  of  the  patriarchs,  prophets  and  apos- 
tles, and  many  holy  men  of  the  true  church  of  Christ,  and 


ON  REPENTANCE.  9$ 

those  that  were  earnestly  and  faithfully  seeking  to  become 
such;  and  we  know  that  they  befriend  in  errands  of  mercy, 
if  not  visibly,  invisibly,  those  who  truly  seek  conversion,  and 
every  one  walking  already  in  the  path  of  holiness. 

God  in  due  time  sent  this  burning  and  shining  light  to 
preach  the  baptism  of  repentance  for  the  remission  of  sins, 
and  to  inform  the  people  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  at 
hand.  He  came  forth  as  one  fully  vested  with  power  and 
authority  from  the  Majesty  on  High,  but  in  humilit3%  and  as 
a  light  shining  in  darkness,  and  as  Isaiah  saitb,  "  The  voice 
of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  make  his  paths  straight.  Every  valley  shall  be  filled, 
and  every  mountain  and  hill  shall  be  brought  low;  and  the 
crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and  the  rough  places  shall  be 
made  smooth;  and  all  flesh  shall  see  the  salvation  of  God." 

The  Baptist,  although  a  pilgrim  and  instructed  in  the  wil- 
derness, was  well  aware  of  the  utter  neglect  and  abuse  of 
vital  Christianity  among  his  countrymen,  and  particularly 
among  certain  sects  that  pervaded  the  land,  which  were  in- 
flated with  pride,  and  self-conceit  of  their  superior  holiness, 
when  at  the  same  time  they  were  destitute  of  the  saving 
grace  and  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  alienated  from,  and 
without  a  knowledge  of  God  in  their  hearts.  Multitudes 
from  Jerusalem,  Judea  and  the  surrounding  country,  went 
to  the  preaching  of  John  and  to  be  baptised  of  him,  and  he 
exhorted  the  people  to  righteousness,  mercy,  and  judgment; 
to  be  good  citizens,  contented  in  their  seveial  callings,  and  to 
contribute  to  the  poor  according  to  their  respective  abilities; 
and  many  were  also  baptised  by  him.  But  when  many  of 
the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  came  to  his  baptism -^as  St. 
Luke  relates  it— he  said  "  O  generation  of  vipers,  who 
hath  warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come?"  It  ap- 
pears,  therefore,  that  he  applied  our  text  more  particularly 
to  these  self-righteous  and  austere  combinations,  who  knew 
not  God,  but  were  full  of  mischief  and  subtlety,  given  to 
adultery  and  their  slavish  passions;  in  fact  the  devil  was  their 


94  ON  EEPENTANCE. 

father,  and  they  were  his  children,  their  hearts  were  therefore 
full  of  filthy  qualities  of  the  old  serpent,  which  was  a  deceiv- 
er, liar,  and  murderer  from  the  beginning.  Such  being  their 
disposition  they  went  in  and  out  in  their  own  righteousness, 
and  would  have  the  world  believe  they  were  the  '''■peciiliar 
;fewf^  they  seated  themselves  into  Moses'  seat,  and  there- 
fore presumptiously  laid  heavy  burdens — too  heavy  to  bear — 
upon  men's  shoulders,  when  they  themselves  would  not  touch 
them  with  one  of  their  fingers.  Thus  they  pretended  to  lead 
the  blind  while  they  themselves  were  far  Jrom  the  true  way, 
bewildered  in  darkness,  and  therefore  justly  called  "bhnd 
leaders  of  the  blind." 

John,  through  the  infallible  spirit  of  God,  could  see  into 
their  hearts,  and  from  their  high  pretensions  to  holiness  and 
teachers  in  Israel  knew  them  to  be  hypocrites,  which  indu- 
ced him  to  exclaim,  "  O  generation  of  vipers,  who  hath 
warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come?"  He  well 
knew  that  our  blessed  Lord  had  not  yet  entered  upon  his 
ministry,  and  that  no  prophet  of  the  Lord  had  preached  un- 
to them,  he  therefore  asked  them  "who  had  warned  them;" 
because  they  came  not  to  him  v^^ith  the  necessary  prepera- 
tion  for  baptism,  a  broken  heart  and  contrite  spirit;  sorrow 
on  account  of  their  sins,  a  loathing  of  themselves  and  a  de- 
sire after  the  righteousness  which  is  from  above,  and  to  be 
"washed  and  made  clenn,"  and  freed  from  an  evil  heart  of 
unbelief,  and  be  inured  in  the  paths  of  holiness  and  godli- 
ness— but  they  came  just  as  they  were,  in  their  self-iighte- 
ous  state;  with  all  the  pollution  and  leprosy  of  sin  upon  them^ 
delighting  in  iniquity,  and  as  swine  to  wallow  in  the  mire, 
and  about  as  fit  to  be  baptised;  therefore  the  Baptist,  instead 
of  washing  them,  commanded  them  to  bring  forth  fruits 
worthy  of  repentance,  such  we  presume  as  we  have  stated 
they  were  destitute  of  when  they  presented  themselves;  an 
upbraiding  of  heart  with  "unclean,  unclean,"  an  utter  ab- 
horrence of  their  former  course  of  iniquity,  a  knowledge  of 


ON  REPENTANCE.  96 

being  altogether  polluted  and  sick  and  in  want  of  a  physi- 
cian. Had  they  come  thus  prepared  to  receive  the  blessing 
of  salvation,  the  balm  might  have  been  applied  by  the  agent 
of  the  great  physician  of  souls  and  bodies,  and  they  might 
have  been  cleansed,  as  Naaman  the  Syrian,  from  their  sin 
and  unrighteousness. 

Their  glorying  in  Abraham  and  thinking  within  them- 
selves "We  have  Abraham  for  our  Father,"  was  to  be  an 
antidote  to  the  words  of  John,  and  a  balm  to  heal  their 
wounded  pride  and  self-conceit,  but  he  soon  stript  them  of 
this  resource  and  exposed  them  in  their  filthiness  and  of  their 
unfitness  of  the  privilege  which  they  claimed,  and  to  shelter 
under  his  wing,  by  saying,  "  God  is  able  of  these  stones  to 
raise  up  children  unto  Abraham."  Their  claim  of  being 
kindred  to  Abraham  was  fallaceous  and  of  no  avail  to  their 
proud  hearts,  for  they  knew  him  not,  were  entirely  destitute 
of  the  living  faith,  the  faith  working  by  love,  which  Abra- 
ham so  eminently  possessed,  and  also  of  his  long  suffering, 
humility,  and  heavenly-mindedness;  consequently  they  could 
not  be  his  children;  none  can  claim  kindred  to  Abraham 
or  any  other  member  of  Christ's  church,  without  being  in 
the  same  faith  and  holiness,  and  through  the  spirit  of  Christ 
in  him,  in  one  allied.  They  were  therefore  as  far  from  being 
the  children  of  faithful  Abraham,  as  heaven  is  from  hell, 
because  through  Christ  was  his  life  hid  in  God;  he  dwelled 
in  God  and  God  in  him;  and  the}'^  were  vipers,  and  the  devil 
was  their  father. 

Dreadfully  hardened  and  corrupt  were  the  hearts  of  the 
Pharise  's;  full  of  hypocrisy  and  deception,  making  broad 
their  phylacteries  and  long  prayers  at  the  corners  of  the 
streets  and  in  the  markets,  to  be  seen  and  heard  of  men,  as 
our  blt'ssed  Saviour  assures  them — whose  coming,  John,  in 
the  spirit  of  Elijah  was  sent  to  announce  to  them.  As  it  is 
written  in  the  prophets,  "  Behold  1  send  my  messenger  be- 
fore thy  face  which  shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee;  he 
shall  turn  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the 


m  ON  REPENTANCE. 

disobedient  to  the  wisdom  of  the  just,  to  make  ready  a  peo- 
ple prepared  for  the  Lord. "  But  notwithstanding  this  proph- 
ecy, and  the  preaching  of  John  the  Baptist,  they  remained 
in  their  old  state  of  unbehef  and  self-righteousness,  yea  if 
anything  they  grew  worse  and  became  more  hardened,  and 
began  with  more  zeal  to  persecute  the  holy  messengers  of 
the  Lord;  particularly  the  Messiah,  who  soon  after  entered 
on  his  ministry.  They  would  not  recognize  him  asthean- 
nointed  of  the  Lord,  sent  to  deliver  them  that  sat  in  darkness 
and  in  the  shadow  of  death;  to  set  the  captives  free,  and 
preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord;  to  accomplish  sal- 
vation, to  become  the  Saviour  of  the  world;  him  they  follow- 
ed from  place  to  place,  not  indeed  to  become  convinced  of 
the  error  of  their  ways  and  converted  through  faith  in  him, 
as  the  Messiah,  unto  God,  but  with  all  hatred,  malice,  and 
revenge;  full  of  subtlety  to  ensnare  him  in  his  preaching  and 
conversation,  to  have  wherewith  to  accuse  him  before  the 
civil  tribunal. 

While  the  blessed  Jesus  endeavored  to  liberate  them  from 
the  bondage  of  sin  and  death,  they  trampled  all  his  holy 
efforts  under  their  feet  and  boasted  in  having  Abraham  for 
their  father,  and  of  never  having  been  in  bondage  to  any 
man;  and  yet  he  said  "ye  shall  be  made  free."  Jesus  replied 
"verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  whosoever  committeth  sin  is 
the  servant  of  sin,"  and  that  the  servant  could  not  abide  in 
the  house  forever,  but  that  the  Son  abideth  forever.  He  ad- 
mitted that  they  were  the  seed  of  Abraham,  but  that  they 
sought  to  kill  him  because  his  words  had  no  place  in  them. 
What  he  meant  by  saying  they  were  the  seed  of  Abraham 
must  be  considered  in  a  natural  way;  they  were  his  children 
by  nature;  as  God  had  told  Abraham  "from  thy  loins  shall 
come  forth  a  people,  in  multitude  as  sand  on  the  sea-shore, 
innumerable."  They  thus  had  a  claim  to  Abraham  as  their 
father,  but  in  the  spiritual  way  they  were  of  the  bond-wo- 
man; were  altogether  estranged  from  him,  they  knew  him 
not  as  a  spiritual  father,  as  all  the  faithful  do  who  are  set  at 


ON  REPENTANCE,  97 

liberty  through  Christ,  who  also  told  them  if  they  were 
children  of  Abraham  they  would  do  his  works;  but  because 
they  were  not  of  Abraham,  but  of  the  devil  they  sought  to 
kill  him;  which  they  soon  after  effected  by  nailing  him  to  the 
cross  and  thus  confirmed  the  words  of  John,  and  proved 
themselves  a  generation  of  vipers. 

Let  us  consider  the  part  we  have  gone  through  before  we 
proceed  to  the  last  portion  of  the  text.  All  infidels  and  un- 
believers; all  that  delight  themselves  m  the  lusts  of  the  flesh, 
the  pride  of  life,  and  wordly  ambition,  the  wisdom  which  is 
not  from  above,  but  which  is  of  the  serpent;  all  hypocrites, 
and  hoards  of  modern  pharisees,  and  self-righteous  dema- 
gogues, and  abusers  of  themselves  with  mankind,  which  a 
person  might  think  was  not  applicable  to  any  in  these  times 
of  Bible,  Tract,  and  Missionary  Societies,  and  when  Bibles 
and  Testaments  are  so  plenty,  found  in  every  house,  and 
when  churches  are  so  numerous  and  almost  daily  building 
throughout  the  country;  m  this  age  of  preteipsions  to  such  a 
high  state  of  civilization  and  refinement.  I  say  a  person 
would  scarcely  think  that  it  could  be  possible,  when  it  really 
is  one  of  the  prevailing  sins  of  the  land  and  causes  it  to  groan 
and  mourn  under  it.  Where  have  we  got  to?  the  lowest 
depth  of  degradation  and  heathenism,  or  the  middle  ages  of 
darkness,  infidelity  and  corruption?  yea  even  to  a  worse 
case  in  relation  to  God  for  his  great  mercies  and  blessings 
abused.  O  earth!  earth!!  earth!!!  mourn  and  be  astonished 
at  the  shamelessness  and  degeneratedness  of  thy  children. — 
O  ye  generation  of  vipers,  how  long  do  you  think  God  will 
bear  with  you?  Be  warned,  be  warned  speedily  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come;  see  ye  not  the  awful  judgments  which  the 
Almighty  is  bringing  upon  you  for  your  filthy  abominations; 
will  ye  remain  blind  to  them  until  ye  are  crushed  into  hell. 
O  that  ye  were  wise,  that  ye  saw  the  judgments  of  our 
Father  ushering  so  many  of  your  fellows  into  eternity,  to  their 
own  home,  that  you  understood  this,  that  ye  would  consider 
your  latter  end. 

9 


98  ON  REPENTANCE. 

And  say  not  within  your  hearts  that  ye  have  Abrahim  for 
your  father,  "for  God  is  able  of  these  stones  to  rais-*  up 
better  children  unto  Abraham;"  neither  say  ye  are  of  Pnul 
or  of  Appollos,  or  of  Luther,  or  of  Calvin,  or  of  Wesley; 
the  usefulness  and  piety,  the  holiness  and  devotedness  to 
God,  of  these  men  can  avad  you  nothing,  if  ye  remain  yet 
in  your  sins  and  abominations.  If  ye  value  your  souls,  bring 
forth  therefore  fruits  meet  for  repentance,  and  through  Christ 
who  is  the  Way,  the  Truth  and  the  Life,  be  ye  converted 
unto  God.  Christ  is  the  foundation  and  way  of  salvation — 
and  there  is  no  other  name  given  whereby  ye  can  be  saved, 
and  escape  the  wrath  to  come,  which  has  even  already  com- 
menced. Remember  the  flood  upon  the  uiigodly,  remember 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  remember  other  nations  uhich 
had  not  the  fear  of  God  before  then'  eyes;  they  were  c;ist  as 
dung  upon  the  earth,  removed  out  of  the  sight  and  nostrils 
of  Jehovah,  and  where  do  you  think  they  are  in  eternity? ah 
that  you  knew;  that  you  would  believe  when  you  are  infor- 
med by  Him  who  is  enthroned  in  the  Holy  Place,  when  he 
swears  in  his  wrath  that  all  that  do  these  things,  shall  not 
enter  into  his  rest,  and  that  all  the  wicked  and  the  nauons 
that  forget  him  shall  be  turned  into  hell.  And  therefore  the 
conclusion  of  our  text  ;-— 

Amd  now  also  the  axe  is  laid  unto  the  root  of  the  trees, 
every  tree  therefore  which  hringeth  not  forth  good  fruity  is 
heion  down  and  cast  into  the  fire.  Johns*'  exposing  their 
wickedness,  and  preaching  the  baptism  of  repentance  ior  the 
remission  of  sins;  offering  the  terms  of  life  and  laying  the 
articles  of  death  before  them;  thus  was  the  axe  laid  unto 
the  root  of  the  trees,  they  were  thefefore  to  choose  whether 
they  would  serve  God  or  mammon,  and  bring  forth  fruits  ac- 
cordingly, so  as  to  be  known  by  their  fruits,  and  if  they  bore 
evil  fruit  they  were  to  be  cut  down  and  cast  into  the  fire,  as 
they  no  doubt  were  all  that  died  or  were  cut  down  in  their 
sins,  for  to  heaven  they  could  not  psssibly  come  without 
holiness,  without  having  beea  trees  of  righteousness,  the 
planting  of  the  Lord  that  he  might  be  glorified. 


ON  REPENTANCE.  99 

Soon  after  this  preaching  and  warning  of  John,  they 
exhibited  by  their  fruits  what  sort  of  trees  they  were,  by 
crucifying  the  Lord  of  Life  and  Glory,  and  further,  by  con- 
tinuing in  their  national  unbelief  despising  all  the  promises, 
and  disregarding  all  the  threats  of  the  Almighty,  and  perse- 
cuting the  messengers  of  the  Most  High ;  their  works  were 
only  evil  continually,  and  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of 
God;  he  therefore,  visited  them  with  awful  judgments;  cut 
them  down  as  cumberers  of  the  ground  ;  destroyed  them  as 
a  nation,  and  scattered  them  abroad  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth. 

I  would  now  also  apply  it  to  this  nation  which  indulges 
so  grossly  in  this  pollution,  this  filthy  abomination  in  the 
sight  of  the  Omnipotent,  Holy  God,  for  which  the  land  has 
been  mourning  and  groaning  for  some  years,  on  account  of 
his  displeasure,  and  the  judgments  which  he  sent  upon  it  to 
teach  you  wisdom  and  cause  you  to  follow  the  example  of 
Ninevah,  to  repent  and  do  away  the  evil  from  before  his  eyes. 
And  have  you  so  repented  and  amended  your  ways  as  to 
walk  more  humbly  and  upright  with  God?  alas,  no!  if  any- 
thing ye  are  plunged  deeper  into  the  mire,  and  continue  a 
hardened,  at)ominable  and  stiff-necked  people,  from  whom 
the  wrath  of  an  angry  God  will  not  be  averted  until  ye  re- 
pent and  do  away  the  evil,  or  until  he  chastise  you  to  the 
uttermost,  even  to  the  destroying  you  as  a  nation  from  the 
face  of  the  earth;  and  at  this  I  am  greatly  astonished,  that  it 
has  not  been  done  already;  but  then  when  I  remember  how 
merciful  Jesus  the  Saviour  and  Intercessor  is,  who  probably 
interceded  that  the  barren  tree  inighi  be  spared  yet  a  little 
while.  Ye  are  not  only  a  barren  tree  as  respects  the  fruit  ye 
should  bear  so  as  to  glorify  God,  and  be  his  delight;  but  ye 
are  a  polluted  tree,  your  fruit  is  abominable,  and  ye  are  a 
dishonor  to  God,  and  he  abhors  you,  and  must  of  necessity 
for  he  is  holy  and  cannot  possibly  delight  in  such  as  ye  are, 
for  ye  are  filthy;  and  therefore  1  forewarn  you  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come. 


100  ON  REPENTANCE. 

A  word  to  the  wise,  if  there  be  any  such,  that  are  heartily 
tired  and  loath  this  beast  of  abominations,  and  wish  to  come 
out  from  amongst  them,  do  so  with  all  possible  speed  that  ye 
partake  not  of  their  sins.  Jesus,  the  Lamb  of  God,  whose 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sins,  stands  ready  to  receive  yoUc 
"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden,  and 
1  will  give  you  rest:  take  my  yoke  upon  you  and  learn  of  me, 
for  I  am  meek  and  lowly,  and  ye  shall  have  rest  unto  your 
souls;  for  my  yoke  is  easy  and  my  burden  is  light."  O  what 
precious  words  are  these  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  to  miserable 
sinners,  that  have  even  fought  against  him,  lived  in  gross 
sins  and  persecuted  Christ  in  his  people;  but  have  seen  their 
folly  and  madness  in  time,  and  are  sensible  of  the  awful 
state  they  are  in,  the  wretchedness  and  misery  of  a  life  of 
sin  and  debauchery,  and  abhor  themselves  on  account  of 
their  iniquity,  and  long  after  peace  and  rest  for  their  souls. — 
Jesus  yet  mercifully  invites  all  such  in  those  gracious  w®rds 
of  love  and  many  others.  *'  Knock  and  it  shall  be  opened, 
seek  and  ye  shall  find;"  ''believe  and  ye  shall  be  saved,"  as 
the  apostle  also  saith,  "with  the  heart  men  believe  unto 
righteousness,  and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto 
salvation;  therefore  repent  ye  and  believe  the  gospel;  believe 
in  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of  faith  and  salvation,  that 
ye  may  be  hid  under  his  Almighty  wings  when  the  general 
destruction  takes  place,  and  finally  live  with  him  forever  in 
heaven,  in  glory. 

To  my  brethren,  the  faithful,  the  holy,  who  are  truly  the 
children  of  faithful  Abraham,  because  we  do  his  works  and 
delight  therein,  therefore  are  we  his  spiritual  children,  and 
we  know  God  through  the  same  faith  that  he  also  knew  him 
and  walked  with  him,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  I 
would  say  to  them,  my  brethren,  be  not  weary  in  well-doing, 
be  faithful  to  the  end,  watch,  fast  and  pray  without  ceasing, 
that  ye  may  abound  in  grace,  in  love,  peace  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost;  and  that  ye  be  not  enticed  to  do  evil,  but  be 
enabled  to  disregard  the  smiles  and  frowns  of  the  world,  its 


ON  REPENTANCE.  101 

promises  and  threats,  malice,  hatred,  and  revenge;  for  ye  are 
a  peculiar  people,  the  chosen  of  the  Lord,  a  holy  nation 
within  many  nations,  a  royal  priesthood;  great  is  our  high  and 
holy  privilege,  let  us  not  abuse  it,  but  keep  the  devil  the  old 
beast  with  all  his  filthiness  under  our  feet,  and  should  he 
rage  with  ten  thousand  times  more  fury  in  the  air,  and  in 
his  filthy  children,  my  beloved  be  nothing  dismayed,  which 
is  to  them  a  sure  sign  of  destruction,  but  to  us  of  salvation 
and  that  of  God.  For  to  us  is  given  not  only  to  believe  in 
Christ,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his  name's  sake;  rejoice  therefore 
and  be  exceeding  glad,  we  shall  also  reign  with  Christ  when 
he  in  his  glory  is  revealed  from  above,  and  have  an  entrance 
administered  unto  us  abundantly  into  his  everlasting  king- 
dom of  glory,  to  reign  with  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  and 
all  the  Holy  Angels,  with  our  blessed  Father  in  the  New 
Jerusalem,  in  Paradise,  and  finally  in  the  New  Heavens  and 
New  Earth,  in  all  joy,  glory,  felicity,  happiness  and  bliss, 
forever  and  ever.     Amen. 


DISCOCR^E  IX. 

THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST. 

Jesus    Christ   has   become   to    us    Wisdom^   Righteousness^ 
Sanctijication^  and  Redemption, 

[\st  Corinthians^  ]st  chap.,  30th  ver» 

Christ  our  Wisdom. 

"In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with 
God,  and  the  Word  was  God;  and  the  same  was  in  the  be- 
ginning with  God.  Ail  things  were  made  by  him,  and  with- 
out him  was  not  any  thing  made  that  was  made."  [St.  John, 
1st,  Chap.]  Jesus  was  therefore  mysteriously  and  incompre- 
hensibly, One  with  the  Father  from  all  eternity.  By  him 
w^ere  the  heavens  ordained  and  the  foundations  of  the  earth 
kid,  and  the  light  spoke  into  being;  the  waters  divided  and 
the  dry  land  made  to  appear;  clothed  with  verdure,  the  herb 
yielding  seed,  and  the  tree  yielding  fruit  after  his  kind;  the 
Sun,  Moon  and  Stars  placed  in  the  fiman<^ni;  the  Sun  to 
rule  the  day,  and  the  iVloon  and  Stars  to  give  light  by  night; 
the  seas  he  filled  with  fish,  and  created  birds  to  fly  in  the  air 
in  the  midst  of  heaven,  and  also  the  beast  after  his  kind,  and 
the  cattle  after  their  kind,  and  every  thing  that  creepeth  up- 
on the  earth,  afier  his  kind;  beholding  these  things  God  in  his 
w^isdom,  pronounced  them  all  good  Then  God  said,  "Let 
us  make  man  in  our  own  image,"  in  His  image  therefore, 
created  he  him,  and  gave  him  dominion  over  all  the  fishes  of 
the  sea,  fowls  of  the  air,  and  beasts  of  the  field,  and  every 
living  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth.  God  formed  a 
help-meet  to  the  man  whom  he  had  formed  from  the  dust  of 
the  earth,  and  into  whom  he  breathed  the  breath  of  life,  so 
that  he  became  a  living  soul,  and  he  brought  every  living 
thmg  on  the  face  of  the  earth  to  be  named  by  him,  and  Adam 


THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST.  103 

distinguished  them  by  diflerent  appellations  to  the  entire  ap- 
probation of  his  Father,  who  deemed  it  rij^ht  that  their  names 
shculd  j-o  »emain.  In  whose  wisdom  did  Adam  thus  perfect- 
ly name  the  living  creation?  Certainly  in  the  wisdow  of 
Chii^t.  For  being  the  first  and  only  human  being  upon  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth  he  could  have  had  no  visible  instruc- 
tor, and  to  have  been  prompted  by  an  apostate  spirit  he  would 
have  faltered  in  his  stupendous  task,  and  could  not  possibly 
havr  pleased  God.  It  is  iherefore  self-evident  that  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  his  instructor,  proceeding  from  the  Father  and 
the  Snn,  through  the  Mystic  Trinity.  In  Christ's  wisdom 
then  (hd  he  act, 

Afier  this  God  caused  a  deep  sleep  to  fall  upon  Adam, 
and  while  he  slept,  he  opened  his  side  and  took  therefrom  a 
rib  and  formed  it  into  a  partner  for  the  man,  and  brought  her 
to  him,  whom  Adam,  in  the  aforesaid  wisdom,  called  Wo- 
man, being  bone  of  his  bones  and  flesh  of  his  flesh,  being 
taken  out  of  man;  and  God  placed  them  both  mto  the  garden 
of  Eden  and  gave  them  pern)ission  to  eat  of  every  tree  there- 
in, save  the  one  in  the  midst  of  the  garden,  of  the  knowledge 
of  ^ood  and  evi) — now  they  were  perfect,  innocent,  and 
holy,  and  walked  with  God  in  wisdom  and  through  their 
obedi«M)ce  every  thing  went  on  well,  until  the  devil,  that 
arch  apostate,  who  had  previously  fallen  from  an  Ai'gel's 
exalted  state  in  heaven,  and  consequently  brought  upon  liim- 
self  the  wrath  of  God,  and  he  together  with  all  the  rebel- 
lious spirits  under  him,  were  cast  out  from  the  presence  of 
the  blessed  and  Holy  God,  into  the  earth,  where  they  are 
held  in  chains  of  darkness  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great 
day,  when  the  wrath  of  Almighty  Gud  shall  be  more  fully 
revealed  against  him,  with  all  his  ungodly  followers  and  after 
havnig  been  judged  by  Saints  and  Angels,  and  heard  their 
sentence  pronounced  by  Jesus  Christ,  the  Judge,  will  be  all 
immediately  cast  into  hell,  to  be  tormented  with  fire  and 
brimstone  forever  and  ever. 

This  foul  spirit  being  exasperated  at  his  expulsion  from 


104  THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST. 

heaven,  and  an  impossibility  of  returning  thither,  set  to  work 
to  destroy  the  innocence,  peace  and  happiness  of  this  holy 
pair,  and  through  his  subtlety,  entered  the  serpent — which 
was  more  cunning  than  any  other  of  the  creatures  which 
God  created  on  all  the  earth,  and  by  a  tact  of  lying — of 
which  he  is  the  Father,  and  wisdom  of  deception,  he  indu- 
ced them  to  take  and  persuaded  them  to  eat  of  the  forbidden 
fruit,  the  consequence  was  their  immediate  fall  from  the  ho- 
liness of  God  and  his  wisdom,  into  ignorance  and  corruption 
of  soul  and  body.  The  anger  of  God  was  kindled  against 
them  and  they  were  driven  out  of  Paradise,  to  obtain  a  liv- 
ing by  their  ow^n  hands,  and  to  eat  their  bread  by  the  sweat 
of  their  brow.  But  God,  who  is  love,  had  pity  and  compas- 
sion upon  them,  and  provided  a  remedy,  thai  through  Christ 
they  and  their  seed  might  again  return  to  him,  be  restored  to 
his  holy  image,  and  walk  with  him  in  wisdom  and  holiness. 

They  now  knew  good  from  evil — that  there  was  a  wisdom 
that  is  from  God,  and  one  so  called,  that  is  from  the  devil ; 
and  their  hearts  were  hardened.  God  saw  that  iniquity  grew 
upon  them,  and  he  therefore  framed  and  gave  laws  to  them, 
that  were  "  holy,  just  and  good,"  and  commandments  that 
were  also  good ;  that  by  the  observing  of  these,  they  might 
live  together  in  peace,  and  end  their  course  with  joy,  and  re- 
turn to  his,  our  Father's  home  and  rest. 

But,  O!  bow  recklessly  and  depraved  have  men  lived  since 
then,  in  all  ages  of  the  world.  In  putting  aside  the  wisdom 
of  God  ;  they  have  hewn  out  cisterns  ;  broken  cisterns  that 
can  hold  no  water;  their  foolish  hearts  were  darkened,  and 
their  delight  was  in  the  inventions  of  Satan,  which  all  lead 
to  destruction  and  death,  and  the  endless  torments  of  hell ; 
and  how  applicable  is  this  to  the  present  generation!  God 
at  first  created  man  upright,  but  they  have  sought  out  many 
inventions;  but  in  the  face  of  this  from  the  godly  wise-men,  to 
justify  themselves,  and  quiet  their  consciences,  many  of  the 
fools  say  in  their  hearts  "  there  is  no  God  ;"  can  it  be  possible 
that  ihey  are  so  hardened  and  blinded  by  ignorance  and  Sa- 
tan, that  they  cannot  see  the  finger  of  God  in  every  thing 


THE  MERIT  OB^  CHRIST.  105 

teeming  with  life  around  them  ;  their  own  bodies,  bones  and 
muscles;  fibres,  tendons  and  nerves,  &c.;  the  curiously 
wrought  ear  and  eye  ;  the  blood  circulating  through  the  sys- 
tem to  sustain  the  whole  ;  and  by  beholding  over  their  heads 
the  stupendous  expanse  of  glittering  luminaries ;  the  won- 
derful and  sublime  arch  of  suns,  moons,  and  blazing  stars, 
circumvolving  in  their  course  with  such  beautiful  harmony 
and  nice  exactness — can  they  really  not  behold  in  all  these 
things,  superior  wisdom  to  their  own  ;  stand  astonishec),  and 
exclaim  with  the  child  that  was  shut  up  in  a  dark  dungeon 
until  manhood,  "who  has  placed  those  things  there  ?".and 
be  informed  through  the  inspired  page,  and  instructed  by 
those  who  are  in  the  wisdom  of  Christ,  of  the  true  source 
from  whence  every  blessing  emanates,  aad  be  convinced  of 
the  fallaciousness  of  their  reasoning,  and  utter  groundlessness 
of  their  wisdom — for  this  wisdom  is  not  of  God,  but  is  earth- 
ly, sensual  and  devilish,  and  the  wretched  and  unchangeable 
state  their  infidelity  will  finally  bring  them  to,  if  they  are  not 
arrested  in  their  madness,  and  persuaded  from  their  delusion, 
and  converted  unto  God  through  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.  "  But  the  bible  and  our  preaching  is  to  them  that 
perish  foolishnes;  to  us  that  are  saved,  the  power  of  God 
and  the  wisdom  of  God.'*  "  For  it  is  written,  I  will  destroy 
the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to  nothing  the  under- 
standing of  the  prudent."  "  Where  is  the  wise?  where  is  the 
scribe  ?  where  is  the  disputer  of  this  world  ?  has  not  God 
made  foolishness  the  wisdom  of  this  world  ?"  "  For  after 
that  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  the  world  by  wisdom  knew  not 
God,  it  pleased  God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save 
them  that  believe."  [1st  Cor.  1st  Chap,  verses  19,  20,  and 
21.]  Be  ye  therefore  constrained  by  one  who  loves  your  souls 
no  longer  to  live  in  darkness,  vanity,  and  the  foolishness  of 
this  world;  but  be  as  honest  to  yourselves,  as  the  Corint  lians 
to  whom  St.  Paul  preached;  Many  also  of  them  which  used 
curious  arts  brought  their  books  together,  and  burned  them 
before  all  men.'''  [Acts,  19c.  19v.]  Thus  they  showed  to  the 


106  THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST. 

world  that  theirviews  w^re  changed  and  thoy  dreaded  the  aw- 
ful consequences  of  a  life  spent  in  vice  and  iniquity,  and  hence- 
forth they  would  walk  in  the  righteousness  and  wisdom  of 
God.  (/!  that  every  sinner  would  go  and  do  likewise.  "For 
the  fear  of  the  Lord  that  is  wisdom  ;  and  to  depart  from  ini- 
quity that  is  understanding." 
Chiist  our  Bighteo?/sness. 

It  is  very  deplorable  to  know  that  thousands,  yea  millions 
of  those  that  have  the  name  of  being  christians,  and  that 
belong  to  some  visible  church  on  earth,  among  whom  are 
many  ministers,  are  utterly  at  variance  with  this  grt^at  grace 
and  blessing,  and  are  going  about  to  establish  in  the  face  of 
it,  their  own  righteousness;  every  one  in  his  respective  calling; 
preaching,  going  to  church,  alms  deeds,  and  in  many  differ- 
ent v\  ays;  they  arrogate  to  themselves  praise  far  above  that 
which  is  due  to  unregenerate  persons,  because  they  do  thes3 
things  with  eye  service  and  not  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  then 
assume  much  comfort  and  ease,  and  on  the  strength  of  these 
things  thirik  themselves  at  liberty  to  indulge  even  in  gross 
sins — building  on  a  slippery  foundation,  while  fiery  billows 
roll  beneath;  erect  a  fabric  that  may  be  blown  away  almost 
by  a  breath.  V\  hat  need  of  a  Saviour  if  men  can  save 
their  own  souls  in  their  respective  ways? — the  impossibility 
of  which  will  however  appear  to  every  candid,  reflecting  mind 
as  God  is  the  source  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  by  con- 
sequence Salvation,  that  great  blessing  is  from  him,  and  Christ 
through  liis  obedience,  merit  and  righteousness  has  become 
the  Saviour,  and  wliere  his  righteousness  is  not  imputed, 
there  is  no  salvation  and  men  remain  still  in  their  sins. 

"  The  Lord  our  righteousnesss,"  from  Jeremiah,  23d  ch. 
6th  ver.,  comports  with  this  part  of  our  subject;  the  inspired 
writer  while  predicting  the  coming  of  our  blessed  Saviour, 
honors  him  with  the  preceeding  title,  and  instructs  his  hear- 
ers and  the  world  in  the  way  of  Salvation;  all  the  redeemed 
from  all  nations,  through  all  ages  are  saved  through  the  mer- 
it of  his  blood,  through  his  righteousness;  all  other  righteous- 
ness is  but  as  filthy  rags,  but  where  that  of  Christ  is  imputed 


THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST.  107 

every  good  fruit  is  apparent,  such  as  have  been  mentioned 
already,  done  in  a  different  temper  than  when  the  person 
was  in  a  natural  state,  and  calculated  the  bearing  of  these 
things  according  to  his  ambitioii  in  regard  to  his  siiualion 
in  this  life,  and  the  influence  they  might  exercise  upon  the 
views  of  the  world,  to  his  own  aggrandisement.  The  natu- 
ral state  is  not  congenial  to  the  holy  attributes  of  God,  which 
require  truth  in  the  innermost  parts;  and  a  holy  purpose  that 
whatever  we  do  may  redound  to  his  glory,  and  heighten  the 
joy  of  the  Ang(^ls  in  heaven,  who  know  our  trials  here  be- 
low, and  are  either  sorrowful  or  abound  in  joy  according  to 
our  triumph  over  the  old  Adam,  and  progress  in  the  new; 
repentance,  therefore  is  the  first  meritorions  act,  and  the  first 
step  towards  a  sinner's  conversion,  lo  break  up  the  fallow 
ground;  then  comes  the  miry  clay,  the  broken  heart,  the 
wounded  spirit,  the  deep  anguish  and  agony  of  a  distressed 
soul;  the  cries  for  mercy,  mercy,  pleading  with  God  for 
forgiveness  of  sins  for  Jesus'  sake,  for  what  he  had  done  and 
suffered,  through  his  most  precious  blood,  through  his  death, 
resurrection  and  ascension,  and  through  his  mediatorial  pow 
er  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father. 

This  weight  of  anguish  and  sorrow  of  soul,  this  travail 
and  agonizing  to  be  delivered  from  the  load  of  sin  and  cor- 
ruption which  so  severely  presses  the  soul,  and  causes  the 
body  to  sink  under  it;  yea  it  even  causes  in  some  the  very 
bones  to  partake  of  the  general  prostration,  and  to  ache  as 
though  they  had  been  bruised  by  some  natural  pressure;  as 
also  David,  the  King,  complained  when  in  affliction,  saying, 
"my  bones  cleave  to  my  skin,"  and  that  his  soul  loathed  to 
eat  bread;  here  is  proof  from  scripture  authority,  and  many 
since  were  abie  to  testify  that  the  whole  man  must  become 
sick  and  in  want  of  a  physician;  then,  and  not  till  then  will 
he  inquire,  ''is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead,  is  there  no  physician 
there?"  And  having  become  acquainted  with  his  wants,  and 
having  made  application  to  the  Great  Physician  of  Souls, 
to  Jesus — who  came  not  to  call  the  righteous  but  sinners  to 


108  THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST. 

repentance — in  the  foregoing  language  of  humility  and  sin- 
cerity, and  if  the  night  of  doubt  and  darkness  continues  long; 
if  ye  cannot  immediately  behold  him  when  ye  wish,  be  ye 
not  therefore  tempted  to  give  over  the  struggle,  for  Satan 
will  persuade  you  to  it  if  possible;  listen  not  to  his  lies — but 
contmue  your  importunate  prayers  and  supplications  for  sal- 
vation, so  as  not  to  let  the  blessed  God  go  until  he  blesses 
you,  and  you  may  rest  assured  that  sooner  or  later  he  will 
pay  attention  to  your  unuttered  groans  and  louder  cries. — 
Head  the  following  texts  for  your  comfort,  "He  that  plant- 
ed the  ear  shall  he  not  hear?  he  that  formed  the  eye  shall  he 
not  see?"  A  bruised  reed  will  he  not  break?  smoking  flax 
will  he  not  quench,  until  he  send  forth  judgment  unto  victo- 
ry?" "  Knock  and  it  shall  be  opened,  seek  and  ye  shall  find." 
These  are  all  precious  and  refreshing  promises  to  every  re- 
penting soul  after  a  night  of  trouble,  the  day-spring  appears 
and  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  arises  in  your  hearts  and  souls; 
then  ye  have  fought  and  attained  the  victory  in  the  first  battle 
of  the  good  fight — now  the  mist  and  darkness  has  disappear- 
ed, your  blindness  has  been  taken  away,  and  your  sins  par- 
doned; your  names  recorded  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life;  now 
also  you  have  received  this  blessing  of  our  Lord.  "  I  am 
come  to  give  to  them  that  mourn  in  Zion;  to  give  them  beau- 
ty for  ashes,  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  the  garment  of  praise 
for  the  spirit  of  heaviness,  that  they  might  be  called  trees  of 
righteousness,  the  planting  of  the  Lord,  that  he  might  be 
glorified."  Your  souls  therefore  now  rejoice  in  the  righteous- 
ness of  your  God  and  Saviour,  your  hearts  leap  for  joy,  and 
are  full  of  thanks  and  praise  to  him  who  has  done  this  thing 
for  you,  and  ready  to  shout  with  Isaiah — ''Sing  O  ye  heavens 
for  the  Lord  has  done  it;  shout  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth; 
break  forth  into  singing  ye  mountains,  O  forests  and  every 
tree  therein,  for  the  Lord  hath  redeemed  Jacob,  and  glorified 
himself  in  Israel." 

Christ  has  become  the  end  of  the  law,  for  righteousness 
unto  you,  because  of  your  living  faith,  and  you  are  now  un- 
der the  covenant  of  his  grace.     Manifest  therefore,  by  holy 


THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST.  109 

tempers  and  Godliness,  that  ye  are  passed  from  death  unto 
life,  have  put  off  the  old  man,  and  have  put  on  the  new  man, 
which  after  God  is  created  in    righteousness  and  true  holi- 
ness; that  the  world  may  take  knowledge  that  ye  have  been 
with  Jesus,  and  have  his  righteousness  imputed  to  you;  by 
your  hatred  of  Satan  and  all  his  unrighteous  inventions  and 
deeds,  and  by  your  love  to  God  and  every  thing  heavenly  and 
that  may  contribute  to  his  glory,  by  your  delight  in  whatso- 
ever things  are  true,  whatsot^ver  things  are  honest,  whatso- 
ever things  are  just,  whatsoever  things  are  pure,  whatsoever 
things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good  report;  and 
by  your  delight  to  serve  and  honor  our  blessed  Father,  and 
keep  yourselves  pure  and  unspotted   from  the  world,  and  at 
all  times   being   holy  and  acceptable  sacrifices  unto  God, 
which  is  your  most  reasonable  service;  thus  your  confidence 
will  increase,  your  faith  be  confirmed,  and  you  will  grow  in 
the  knowledge  of  God,  in  his  righteousness,  p^ace   and  joy 
in  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  the  fulness  of  the  stature  of  Christ. 
Christ  our  Sanctification  and  Redemption: 
In  the  righteousness  of  Christ  you  will,  by  remaining  faith- 
ful, and  persevering,  grow  in  the  knowledge  of  God,  even  to 
the  fullness  of  the  stature  of  Christ,  and  as  justification,  or 
his  wisdom  and  imputed  righteousness  goes  before  sanctifi- 
cation,  you  may  have  forgiveness  of  sin,  and  peace  with  God, 
yet  this  latter  blessing   may  be  withheld  for  a  time,  in  the 
wisdom  best  known  to  hinxself;  but  as  even  this  is  to  work 
together  for  good  to  them  that  love  and  fear  God,  the  young 
christian  has  nothing  to  cause  him  to  dispair,  but  to   strive 
in  his  duty  for  this  blessing  also,  and  no  doubt  it  will  be 
granted;  in  due  time,  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spiiit  will 
be  more  clear  and  sensible  to  your  undei  standings  and  souls, 
and  ye  will  freely  cry  Abba,  Abba,  Father,  and  have  a  near- 
er intercourse  with  God,  and  your  joy  will   more  and  more 
abound;  your  souls  will  be  as  watered  gardens,  by  the  re- 
freshings from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  the  great  Fountain 


no  THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST. 

of  love  and  goodness,  and  they  will  be  as  rivers  meandering 
and  shining  in  the  oc<  an  of  his  love,  »eflectiug  the  beams  of 
the  glorious  Sun  of  Righteousness.  All  now  is  peace,  love 
and  gladness  within  your  heaits,  and  your  spirits  are  hfted 
up  and  your  souls  sing  for  joy.  And  well  may  ye  rejoice, 
seated  in  high  and  heavenly  places — the  abode  of  Holy  An- 
gels—ihough  Christ  Jesus,  the  author,  finisher,  sanctifier  and 
rewarder  of  our  faith,  whose  promises  are  sanctified  to  your 
souls  and  his  words  are  no  longer  a  terror,  as  they  are  to 
to  the  unconverted  ;  no,  his  words  and  commands  are  your 
delight,  and  with  Holy  King  David  you  can  say,  "Lord,  your 
commands  are  holy,  just  and  good,  and  the  rejoicing  of  my 
heart;"  you  will  delight  in  often  walking  in  this  gaiden  of 
Eden,  to  meditate  in  the  inspired  pages,  to  be  refreshed  and 
pluck  the  flowers— promises  to  christians — to  cheer  you  on 
your  pilgrimage  through  this  desert  world,  to  brighten 
your  souls  to  contemplate  the  beauties  of  Paradise,  and  soar 
to  the  regions  of  glory,  to  behold  our  brethren  the  sanctified 
and  redeemed  of  the  Lord,  blooming  in  the  efiulgent  glory  of 
God,  and  reflecting  the  beatific  Deity,  and  listen  to  the  An- 
gelic chorus  singing  the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,  and  giv- 
ing vent  to  their  praise  in  their  most  divine  and  holy  strains, 
crying  Holy!  Holy'l  Holy!!'  Lord  God  Almi^^hty,  Jehovah, 
Thou  King  of  Saints,  Hallelujah  !  Hallelujah  !  !  the  Lord 
God  Omnipotent  reigneth.'" 

Such  is  the  life  of  God  in  the  soul,  the  having  Christ  for  wis- 
dom, righteousness,  sanctification  and  redemption,  to  walk 
with  God  in  holiness;  in  his  holy  temple,  where  his  honor 
dwelleth  ;  to  be  the  children  whom  he  delights  to  honor  and 
bless  with  every  choice  blessing  from  Mount  Zion;  "  Because 
he  hath  set  his  love  upon  me,  therefore  will  1  deliver  him,  1 
will  set  him  on  high,  because  he  has  known  My  name,  he 
shall  call  upon  me  and  1  will  {\nswer  him,  1  will  be  with 
him  in  trouble,  1  will  deliver  and  honer  him.  With  long 
life  will  T  satisfy  him,  and  shew  him  my  salvation." 

O;  but  these  are  precious  promises  to  the  sanctified  and 
redeemed  of  the  Lord,  who  ever  beholds  us  from  his  high 


THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST.  Ul 

and  holy  throne;  supplies  our  wants  and  blesses  us  vvitli  love, 
peace  and  joy  in  the  Hloy  Ghost.  Yea,  God  doth  in  his 
Saints  delight: 

"  He  looks  mid  circumvolving  spheres, 

Complaisant  on  his  ransom'd  heirs, 
More  dear  than  all  his  works  beside, 

Bless'd  souls  for  whom  the  Saviour  died." 

We  have  considered  the  creation  to  behold  the  wisdom  of 
God  displayed,  and  were  astonished  at  the  stupendous  inag- 
nificence  presented  to  the  natural  eye,  and  his  goodiioss  to 
man  in  the  productions  and  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  the  unlim- 
ited power  over  every  other  creature  conferred  upon  him.  But 
in  the  work  of  redemption  we  view  him  far  above  the  work 
of  creation.     O  his  love  manifested  through  his  condescen- 
sion to  appear  in  human  form  on  ihis  earthly  ball,  to  become 
a  sacrificial  Lamb,  to  atone  for  the  sins  and  iniquity  of  an 
urgrateful,  miserable  and  wretched  human  beings.  Tinough 
Emmanuel,  God  with  us,  did  he  out  of  love  to  our  souls  ac- 
complish this,  so  great  a  work  on  Calvary,  then  bruised  the 
serpent's  head   and  took   away  the  sting  of  death,  and  tri- 
umphed over  the  grave;  now  may  all  the  redeemed  of  the 
Lord  sing  and  rejoice   in  our  God  and  Saviour,  and  say  to 
death,  "O  death   where  is  thy  sting?  O  grave  where  is  thy 
victory?  thanks  be  to  God  which  giveth  us  the  victory  through 
our  Lord   and  Saviour,  Jesus   Christ."     Yea  our   blerised 
Father  will  redeem  our  souls  from  the  power  of  the  grave; 
therefore  with  the  psalmist  David    we   may  exult  and   ex- 
claim, "  Our  hearts  are  glad,   and  our  glory  rejoiceih;  our 
flesh  also  shall  rest  in  hope,  for  we  know  that  our  Redeemer 
liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand  on  the  latter  day  upon   the 
earth."     Yea  verily,  the  blessed  Jesus  is  coming  again,  He 
is  coming!  He  is   coming  1!  arrayed  in  glory  and   majesty, 
and  power;  in  his  own  glory  and  the  glory  of  the  Father, 
surrounded  by  all  the  shining,  holy,  heavenly  hosts,  of  Angels 
and  his  redeemed  Saints,  when  He  will  hold  a  general  res- 
urrection; and  we,  his  saints,  shall  have  our  bodies  redeemed 


112  THE  MERIT  OF  CHRIST. 

and  glorified  like  unto  his  jolorious  body,  and  then  shall  the 
love  of  Jehovah  and  the  glorious  work  of  redemption  be  re- 
plete in  gracious  relief  to  the  manifestation  of  both  parties; 
the  redeemed  and  holy,  and  to  the  unsanctified  and  unholy; 
when  all  the  w^orld  from  beginning  to  end  shall  stand  before 
Him;  the  redeemed  with  the  Holy  Angels  sing  with  joy  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory;  and  rejoice  in  their  God  and 
Saviour,  but  the  rest,  those  who  slightrd  his  Jove  and  would 
have  none  of  his  redemption  and  holiness,  are,  with  their 
fathrr  the  devil  .sentenced  to  wretchedness,  and  will  be 
cast  by  the  King  of  Saints  and  of  Glory,  into  endless  tor- 
ments, into  hell,  where  the  worm  dieth  not  and  the  fire  is 
not  quenched.  Then  also  shall  the  redeemed,  with  the  holy 
angels,  inherit  the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth,  and  sing 
praises  and  hallelujahs,  unto  the  Father  and  unto  the  Lamb 
forever  and  ever.     Amen 


BI8COIJR8E  X. 

TFIE   BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT. 

Therefore  said  thry  vnto  him,  How  were  thine  eyes  opened^ 
He  answered  and  said,  A  man  that  is  called  Jesus,  made  clay 
and  anointed  mine  eyes,  and  said  nnto  me,  Go  to  the  poo! 
X)f  Siloam,  and  wash:  and  I  went   and  washed,  afid  I  re* 
ceived  sight,  [John,  9th  Chap.  lOth  Sf  I  Uh  verses, 

O  how  numerous  and  lamentable  are  the  afiflictions  of  the 
human  family  in  consequence  of  the  wrath  of  God,  entail- 
ed upon  the  same,  on  the  disobedence  of  our  first  parents. 
Dreadful  are  the  issues  flowmg  from  the  vials,  even  in  this 
life,  but  how  much  more  terrible  and  awful  to  those  who 
neglect  the  salvation  of  their  immortal  souls,  who  die  in 
their  sins,  in  that  which  is  to  come;  in  that  of  endless  dura- 
tion, where  the  worm  dielh  not  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched. 
jVlan,  created  at  the  beginning  innocent  and  holy,  like  unto 
the  Angels  of  Heaven,  without  those  concomitant  evils  to 
which  he  is  heir  to  now,  and  has  been  throughout  all  ages  of 
the  world,  from  the  time  Jehovah  pronounced  the  curse,  "in 
the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  thy  bread;"  and  also, 
"  dust  thou  art  and  unto  dust  shall  thou  return."  From 
this  period  the  whole  creation  has  been  travailing  in  pain 
together  until  now;  the  earth  bringing  forth  thorns  and  this- 
tles, and  groaning  and  languishing  on  account  of  the  mis- 
deeds of  her  inhabitants,  who  in  the  goodness  and  mercy  of 
God,  were,  and  are  btill  visited  by  severe  judgments;  burdens 
of  gracious  plagues  and  sores  are  laid  upon  the  children  of 
men,  which  in  the  wisdom  and  providence  of  God,  are  to 
redound  to  their  temporal  and  eternal  welfare,  and  also  to 
the  glory  of  the  Most  High;  for  God,  who  is  over  all  and 
blessed  forevermore.  is  a  jealous  God  and  will  never  permit 
his  glory  to  pass  from  him,  neither  will  he  give  it  to  anotbei*. 

10 


114  THE  BLIND    RESTORED  TO  SIGHT. 

In  rorisequpiJce  thereforp,  of  His  Omnipotence,  the  devil,  his 
advpisaiy,  ran  never  rob  hinn — alihongh  be  is  a  robber  and 
murderer — but  wiH  alwa3S  b  •  confounded,  ovc  rthrovvn,  and 
tran^pl-d  under  as  be  was  when  in  the  ^lory  of  Heaven  he 
esayed  lobe  as  the  Most  Hi^h,  when  bn  became  the  vilest 
of  all  creation;  the  father  of  li  's,  sin,  and  iniquity,  and  alt 
abomination  and  crime;  and  the  Lord  God  bound  him  in 
chains  of  ignorance  and  darkness,  and  cast  him  out  into  the 
earth,  and  l»ere  on  earth  he  has  been  the  cause  of  all  this  es- 
trangement from  our  heavenly  Father,  contempt  of  his  w-ord, 
and  consequently,  misery  and  wretchedness  of  poor,  frail 
hunmn  nature;  darkness  and  bhndness,  and  death  temporal^ 
as  v\ellas  spnituai  and  eternal. 

O  how  much  more  awful  would  have  been  the  state  of  our 
forefathers  and  also  ours,  had  not  our  blessed  God  piomised 
a  Naviour  immediately  alter  the  fall'  had  he  not  sent  Him 
to  our  relief  in  due  time  as  predicted;  had  not  Jesus  passed 
to  and  fro  among  us,  as  a  physician,  to  alleviate  our  misery, 
lo  cleanse  us  from  the  leprosy  of  sin  and  iniquity;  for  when 
we  were  dead  in  tresspasser  and  crime,  the  blessed  Lord  ap- 
peared among  us  to  prepare  a  balm  to  heal  our  wounds;  to 
cause  the  blinil  to  see,  the  lame  to  walk,  the  possessed  of  dev- 
ils to  rejoice  in  God,  and  to  raise  the  dead  to  life.  Christ 
was  emphatically  the  light  of  the  world;  the  day-spring  from 
on  High,  lo  those  who  satin  the  shadow  of  death;  the  glori- 
ous Sun  of  Righteousness  to  illuminate  the  dark  places  of 
the  earth;  to  shine  into  the  hearts  where  cruel  devils  had  their 
habitation,  and  cause  them  to  flee  belore  his  presence;  then 
imparted  hi?  miraculous  grace,  illuminated  the  souls  and  un- 
derstandings, and  erected  his  temple  of  holiness  in  their 
hearts,  and  shrine  of  praise  in  their  bu  asls,  and  sinners  coidd 
}eap,  rejoice  ar.d  praise  God;  who  were  before  blind,  lame, 
impotent,  and  deaf  and  dumb. 

As  by  one  man  sin  entered  int'^  the  world,  and  death  by  sin, 
so  by  one  man,  Christ  Jesus  came  also  salvation;  righteous- 
ness ana  holiness,  love,  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost; 


THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT.  115 

eternal  life;  the  promise  of  the  lile  that  now  is,  and  of  that 
wh'n  h  is  to  come;  through  faith  in  Him  as  a  Prince  and  a 
Saviour,  in  whom  alor^e  is  remission  of  sins,  jusiifi' alion, 
sanctification,  Rud  rverlasttvg  hfe :  who  is  indubHably  "the 
Way,  the  Truth  and  the  Lile;"  hikI  none  can  ever  come  inUo 
the  Father  but  by  him,  for  our  blessed  God  sent  him  invo  the 
world  to  become  a  pntpitialion  thereof,  so  that  *'He  might 
be  just  and  the  Justifier  of  him  that  believelh  in  Jesus  " 

It  is  evident  that  by  faith  we  are  made  vvLoli',  eNen  saved 
from  our  sins;  to  live  and  move  and  have  our  being  in  holi- 
ness in  Christ,  '*  Who  is  the  re^urreciiou  and  the  life,  and 
whosoever  believeth  in  Him  though  lie  wer«  dead  yet  shall 
he  live,  and  whosoever  iiveth  and  believeth  on  Him  shall 
never  die."  As  therefore  faith,  and  only  faith,  l)rings  the 
blessings  fiom  above,  the  astonishing  miracles  which  Christ 
wrought,  were  thus  awarded  to  those  who  had  confidence  ia 
and  believingly  came  unto  Him,  craving  the  boon  which 
they  stood  in  need  of  to  inci^ase  then-  comlort  in  this  life, 
and  some  for  their  eternal  well-being,  and  none  that  ev  er 
came  thus  were  ever  sent  empty  away  by  the  blessed  i^m- 
manuel,  but  had  their  wishes  gratified,  and  thus  this  blinJ 
man  received  his  sight : 

Stupendous  miracles  are  wrought, 

And  water  into  wine  does  flow; 
At  the  Omnipotence  of  his  word 

The  lame  are  lieal'd  in  soundness  go. 

Behold  the  blind  their  sight  receive, 

The  lepers  cleans' d  and  freed  from  stain, 
The  possess'd  of  devils  does  relieve, 

And  deaf  to  hear  restores  again. 

The  sick  and  the  dying  he  heals, 

And  to  life  again  the  dead  does  call, 
Thus  his  power  divine  reveals, 

And  with  compassion  looks  on  all. 

O  mark  his  virtue  at  the  tomb, 

Of  him  with  whom  he  was  intimate, 
Overpower'd  and  weeping,  cries,  "comei'* 

Behold  dead  Lazarus'  whole  made. 


ne  THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT. 

The  blessed  J^aviour  constrained  by  Infinite  love,  s(yjourR' 
ed  as  a  stranger  and  pilgrim  on  the  earth  to  befriond  poor, 
wretched  sinners,  to  do  them  good;  lo  become  their  Redeem- 
er, and  also  to  glorify  God  the  Father,  in  whom  the  works 
which  he  did  were  wrought;  as  he  informed  his  disciples, 
that  his  doings  might  be  made  ntanrfest,  and  that  for  this 
purpose  this  man  was  born  blind,  and  that  it  was  not  on  ac- 
count of  the  sins  of  his  parent?,  althougii  sin  and  iniquity 
are  the  pnmary  cause  of  all  blindness,  distortion,  di.-ease, 
and  death. 

It  appears  that  our  blessed  Lord  made  an  ointment  of  clay 
moistened  by  his  spittle,  and  put  it  on  the  eyes  of  the  blind 
man  and  commanded  him  to  go  and  wash  in  the  pool  of  Si- 
loam;  he  went  as  he  was  bid  by  the  Lord,  washed  m  the 
pvol  and  came  seeing.  His  neighbors  were  greatly  astonish- 
ed, knowing  that  he  had  been  blind  from  his  birth.  *'There- 
fore  said  they  unto  him,  How  were  thine  eyes  opened?"— 
Pie  informed  them  by  saying  that,  "A  man  that  is  called 
Jesus,  made  clay  and  anointed  n.ine  eyes,  and  said  unto  me, 
Go  to  the  pool  of  >iloam,  and  wash,  and  1  went  and  washed, 
and  ]  received  sight." 

Jesus  after  having  anointed  his  eyes,  passed  on  his  way  to 
administer  to  others,  progressing  in  bis  mission  towards  its  fi- 
nal accomplishment,  when  he  should  bruise  the  devd's  filthy 
head,  break  the  chains  of  hell,  and  set  the  captives  free;  when 
he  should  acconjpfish  full  salvation,  by  his  atonement  on 
Calvarv,  by  satisfying  divine  justice  on  the  cross;  behold  him 
on  Calvary's  heights,  his  tender  hands  and  feet  pierced  by 
rugged  nails;  thus  pinioned  to  the  accursed  tree,  he  hangs  be- 
tween heaven  and  earth  amid  the  vilest  of  the  vile-  amid  mur- 
derers— and  he  himself  accused  as  viler  still,  although  inno- 
cent and  holy,  and  without  auile  in  his  mouth;  with  love,  pity, 
and  compassion,  he  looks  down  upon  his  enemies;  his  perse- 
cutors, blasphemers,  and  his  murderers,  and  prays,  '^Father 
forgive  them  for  (hey  know  not  what  they  do."  O  that  you 
would  contemplate  the  sufferings  he  endured,  that  you  would 


THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT.  117 

behold  the  groat  change  in  his  countenance  in  consequence 
of  th(^  ag;ony  he  is  in  for  your  sins;  yea  for  your  sins  he  then  ag- 
onises and  groans  inspirit.  O  the  awful,  the  terrible  death  he 
endures  for  you  ;0  shall  his  unbounded,  boundless  love,  his 
dying  love,  avaii  Frothing  with  you  miserable  wreched  sinners 
just  on  the  brink  of  hell,  ready  to  drop  into  the  pit  prepared 
for  the  devil  and  the  damned,  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world?  Shall  1  repeat,  has  h«s  holy,  angelic,  god-like,  dying 
love,  which  induced  him  to  come  to  your  relief  so  that  you 
might  not  die,  but  live,  avail  you  nothing?  will  you  remain 
in  your  hard,  impenitent  state,  your  dreadful  aversion  of  ho- 
liness; of  a  life  of  Godliness,  your  very  hatred  of  God  and 
his  words,  while  he  dc^es  all  for  your  conversion,  for  your  de- 
liverance from  the  bondage  of  the  d-evil  ami  his  filthiness, 
and  from  death  and  hell;  will  you  still  continue  to  resist  the 
blessed  God  in  his  merciful  and  indescribable  efforts  to  save 
you  fiojii  b  'ing  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone;  do 
despite  to  his  holy  spirit  of  grace,  to  apply  the  blood  of  Je- 
sus, to  cleansi^  you  hom  your  sins;  behold  how  it  flows  in 
healing  streams  from  his  hands  and  side,  and  feet  and  head. 
O  how  precious  it  is  to  cleanse  from  all  sins,  as  all  know 
who  walk  in  holiness  with  God;  and  O  will  you,  O  wretched 
creatures,  will  you  trample  this  holy,  this  sanctified  blood  of 
the  Lauib  of  God  under  foot,  and  like  stubborn  swine  and 
dogs  run  headlong  into  hell!  O  how  can  you  be  so  ungrate- 
ful to  yourselves,  your  poor  dying  souls,  and  your  Maker's 
love,  who  also  wishes  to  be  your  Saviour,  to  pluck  you  as 
brands  from  everlasting  burnings!  How^  can  you  be  thus 
unfeeling?  ^our  hearts  be  like  the  nether  millstone,  against 
the  love,  the  mercy,  and  the  goodness  of  our  beloved  God; 
not  kno  vvi.ig  that  his  goodness  has  a  tendency  to  lead  you  to 
repentance,  but  go  on  in  your  folly  and  madness,  unt>l  like 
Dives,  you  are  brought  to  feel  for  your  poor  souls  in  hell,  al- 
though you  never  could  this  side  of  it. 

God  is  essentially  Love,  as  is  abundantly  manifest  thro"* 
this,   his  atonement  on  calvary,  in  the  character  of  his  only 


118  THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT. 

begotten  Son  Emnianud,  and  also  in  many  works  wrought 
previous,  and  since,  to  convince  sinners  that  he  had  no  de- 
light in  their  death,  hut  rather  that  they  would  repent  and 
live.  "Turn  ye,  Turn  ye,  for  why  wdl  ye  die,"  is  the  Jan- 
guHge  of  Jehovah,  constiained  by  Divine  Love,  and  made 
manifest  to  poor  dying  sinners,  to  warn  you  to  flee  froai  the 
wrath  to  come;  to  work  out  your  souPs  salvation  ere  death 
puts  a  period  to  your  mortal  beingvere  you  are  cut  down  as 
the  grass,  and  your  glory  perishes  as  the  flower  thereof;  ere 
you  are  summoned  out  of  time  into  a  never,  no  never  ending 
eternit\;  ere  you  are  called  to  the  bar  of  Christ,  the  Judge 
of  all  the  earth,  so  that  you  be  not  doomed  by  him  to  end- 
less perdition;  be  expelled  from  the  presence  of  His  glory 
and  Majesty  forever  and  e\'er,  into  the  place  prepared  for 
foul  spirits,  for  devils,  where  neither  love  nor  peace  can  pos- 
sibly exist,  for  devils  cannot  love,  neither  is  there  any  peace 
for  them  nor  the  wicked,  says  Almi^iity  God;  for  those  who' 
have  their  delight  in  all  manner  of  abominations,  who  d  ink 
down  iniquity  as  an  ox  diiuks  dow,n  water;  wlio  revel  in 
darkness  and  things  pertaining  to  death;  who  commit  the 
grossest  crimes,  and  are  not  sorry  for  their  hellish  deeds,  but 
liavp  the  effrontery  a. id  impudence  to  glory  in  their  shame, 
presumptiously  mock  God  in  his  glory,  and  mouthe  the  very 
heavens;  chikiren  of  darkness  who  shun  the  light  like  the 
owl,  lest  their  robberies,  their  murdrrs,  their  whoredoms? 
their  witchcrafts,  thfir  workings  with  familiar  spirits,  their 
drunkenness,  their  abusing  each  others  bodies  by  the  hellish 
abominations  and  infernal  inventions  of  filthy  devils,  their 
adulteries,  their  fornications,  their  extortion, and  other  crimes. 
1  say  who  shun  the  light  lest  their  doings  of  darkness  and 
death  be  made  manifest  and  reproved,  and  who  harden  their 
hearts  and  stiffen  their  necks,  lest  they  become  converted 
and  Christ  should  heal  them;  who  love  darkness  rather  than 
light  because  their  deeds  are  evil;  whose  consciences  are 
seared  as  with  an  hot  iron;  to  whom  blindness  has  happened 
and  who  wallow  in  filth  as  svvintf  in  the  mire;  the  odours  of 


THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT,  119 

their  abominations  ascends  up  continually  unto  the  throne 
of  the  Eternal,  and  o(feniis  the  nostrils  of  Jehovah;  in  con- 
sequence of  whose  wrath  —for  God  is  angry  with  the  wic^ked 
every  day — "their  destruction  lingercth  not,  and  their  dam- 
nation slumbereth  not/''  Such  a  people  as  above  pervaded 
the  earth  at  the  time  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  ihey  hardened 
their  hearts,  stiffened  their  necks,  and  shut  their  eyes — (hat 
is  blinded  their  understanding,  lest  they  should  Ije  brouglit 
to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  whom  they  per 
secuted  from  city  to  city,  and  would  have  none  fJ  his  re- 
proofs, nor  admonitions,  denying  that  he  was  the  predi<  ted 
Emmanuel — God  with  us — and  his  prerogative  of  the  \les- 
siahship;  his  exalte.!  commission  from  the  Majesty  on  High, 
from  Jehovah,  "to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  liberate  the  cap- 
tives, set  the  prisoners  free,  proclaim  the  acceptable  year  of 
the  Lord,  and  comfort  the  mourners  in  Sion;  to  give  them 
beauty  for  ashes,  the  o»l  of  joy  lor  mourning,  the  garment  of 
praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness,  that  they  might  be  called 
trees  of  Kighteousness,  the  plantmg  of  the  Lord,  that  he 
might  l>e  glorified.  Notwithstanding  all  the  exertions  of  our 
ado  able  Lord  to  enlio;hten  the  peo[>le,  for  saith  he,  "  As 
long  as  I  am  in  the  world  I  am  the  light  of  the  world." — 
Darkness  ren\ained  covering  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness 
the  people— inflated  with  pride  and  anrbition,  the  leaders 
were  ever  busy  inflaming  by  their  conveisalion  t  :h 
multitude  to  acts  of  ungratefulness  against  the  giver  of 
every  good  and  perfect  gift;  who  now  sojourned  among  them 
in  human  form,  although  iJivine  in  his  nature,  to  effect  the 
salvation  of  the  world.  Stupendous  miracles  were  wrought 
to  alleviate  the  v^  retchedness  of  men;  it  was  also  apparent 
from  ail  his  works  that  they  were  from  above,  and  no  one 
could  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind  unless  be  was  from  God; 
but  they  denied  the  Divinity  of  Christ,  *'  Therefore  said  they 
unto  him,  How^  were  thine  eyes  opened?'" 

Jesus  having  finished  his  course;  having  ended  his  mission 
on  earth;  having  accomplished  salvation  for  the  world,  and 


120  THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT, 

having  assumed  his  Eternal  Glory  in  Heaven,  from  wh^re  he 
rules  the  Universe  and  from  whence  he  dispenses  blessings 
temporal  and  spiritual,  salvation  and  remission  of  sins  to  all 
that  come  unto  him;  a^d  from  w^hence  he  calls  upon  all  men 
every  where  to  repent,  to  do  away  all  evil  from  before  his 
glorious  eyes,  to  work  out  their  souls  sanation  wh^le  it  is  day 
ere  eternal  darkness  and  death  comes  upon  tnem,  ere  they 
are  turned  into  hell,  to  make  their  calling  and  election  sure, 
so  as  to  escape  the  evil  which  shall  come  upon  all  the  earth 
to  try  men's  souls;  when  thf^  righteous  shall  be  received  into 
the  joy  of  our  Lord,  and  the  wicked  destroyed  by  his  fury 
from  the  earth  and  the  presence  of  hia  glory 

"O  ye  blind  straining  at  a  gnat  and  swallowing  a  camel;" 
"ye  blind  leaders  of  the  blind,"  why  will  ye  not  turn  ere  ye 
all  fall  into  the  ditch?  why  will  ye  not  repent  and  live?  Turn 
ye.  Turn  ye,  for  wijy  will  ye  die?  Repent,  repent,  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  is  at  hand!  "  How  were  thine  eyes  opened?" 
is  a  question  which  the  spiritual  Wind  would  do  well  to  ask 
of  those  who  had  tlieir  understandings,  their  souls,  through 
Jesus  illuminated  by  the  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  applying  his  merit  and  righteousness  for  our  regener- 
ation, sanctification,  and  redemption;  of  us  who  have  been 
thus  reconciled  to  God  and  his  holy  image,  and  now  have 
the  mark  of  Christ  upon  our  foreheads^  give  evidence  that 
we  have  been  with  Jesus,  been  taught  of  him;  have  Christ 
in  us  the  hope  of  glory,  and  are  not  ashamed  to  suffer  re- 
proach and  persecution  for  his  Name's  sake.  They  would 
do  well  to  ask,  "  What  must  we  do  to  be  saved?"  and  all 
the  Saints  of  the  Most  High  God  will  admonish  them  to  re- 
pent of  all  their  sins  and  to  believe  in  Jesus,  so  that  the  day- 
star  arise  in  their  hearts,  and  the  day  spring  to  give  light  to 
them  that  sit  in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  to 
cause  the  mist  and  the  darkness  to  disappear,  and  their  un- 
derstandings to  become  enlightened,  so  that  the  glorious  Sua 
of  Righteousness  may  illuminate  their  pathway,  and  they  be 
brouglit  to  see  clearly  that  they  have  beea  fools  and  slaves 


THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT.  121 

of  hell  all  their  lives,  and  now  have  foiinrl  life,  light,  love,  joy 
and  peace  in  him  of  whom  the  prophets  spake,  even  in  Je- 
sus (he  author,  finisher  and  rewarder  of  faith. 
ffe  answered  and  said,  A  man  that  is  called  Jpsi/s,  made  clay, 

and  anointed  mine  eyes,  and  said  unto  me.  Go  to  the  pool  of 

Siloam  and  wash:  and  I  uent  and  washed,  and  I  received 

sight. 

Now,  this  man  Jesus,  spoken  of  by  this  poor  man  that 
had  been  blind,  has  opf-ned  a  fountain  from  whenco  flow  re- 
pentance and  forgiveness  of  sins,  a  fountain  much  more  effi- 
cacious than  the  pool  of  >iloam  was  at  the  moving  of  the 
waters  by  the  Angel  of  the  Lord,  which  descended  at  certain 
seasons  for  that  purpose,  so  that  he  that  first  stepped  into  the 
water  was  healed  of  whatsoever  disease  or  plague  he  was 
opp  essed  with.  But  the  atonement  of  Jesus,  the  fountain 
of  ever-living  waters,  is  not  only  possessed  of  healing  virtues 
at  certain  seasons,  but  at  all  times  the  restoring  qualities  are 
apparent,  and  sinners  aie  invited  to  plunge  into  the  purple 
stream  and  be  purified  from  all  iniquity;  that  is,  repent  to 
God,  and  have  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  and  his  blood,  which 
cleanses  from  all  sin. 

Perfect  salvation  is  therefore  attainable,  and  sinners  may 
escape  damnation  if  they  will  apply  the  remedy.  God  and 
his  true  ambassadors  will  clear  themselves  of  their  blood;  if 
they  die  in  their  sins  be  their  blood  upon  their  own  heads. — 
God  has  done  his  part  to  all  nations  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world,  and  will  do  so  to  the  end  of  time,  and  swears 
"  As  I  live,  1  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  sinners,  but 
rather  that  they  repent  and  live."  J<hovah  therefore,  calls 
upon  all  men,  everywhere,  to  niake  their  peace  with  him;  ''to 
come  and  reason  with  him,  and  their  sins,  though  they  were 
as  scarlet,  shall  become  white  as  snow;  and  though  they  are 
as  crimson,  shall  become  white  as  wool."  I,  as  the  ambas- 
sador of  the  High  and  Holy  God,  make  these  things  known 
unto  you,  and  warn  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  "for 
your  covenant  with  death  shall  be  disannulled,  and  your 


122  THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT. 

agreement  with  hell  shall  not  stand;  when  the  overflowing 
scourge  shall  pas^  through,  then  ye  shall  be  trodden  down 
by  it;  for  the  Lord  shall  rise  up  as  in  xMount  Peraznn;  he 
shail  bj  wroth  as  in  the  valley  of  Gibeon,  that  he  may  do 
his  work,  his  stiange  work,  and  bring  to  pass  his  acts,  his 
strange  acts.  Now  therefore  be  ye  not  mockers,  lest  your 
bands  be  made  strong;  for  I  have  heard  from  the  Lord  God 
of  Hosts,  a  consumption,  even  determined  upon  the  whole 
earth."  [Isaiah,  27th.  chap. 

The  Lord  Jesus  made  an  ointment  of  clay  and  command- 
ed the  blind  to  go  and  wash;  he  did  so  and  received  his  sight. 
Jesus  has  also  acconiplished  salvation  for  the  whole  world; 
there  is  therefore  now  a  balm  in  Gilead,  there  is  a  physician 
there,  and  all  are  also  commanded  to  cnme  to  him  to  be 
healed,  that  they  may  see,  hear,  understand,  be  holy,  a;id 
live.  But  say  some,  if  Christ  died  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world,  then  all  will  be  saved,  and  there  is  no  more  condem- 
nation to  the  wicked,  and  all  vvdl  enter  through  the  sirait 
gate  into  heaven — swine  and  dogs  along  with  the  holy  saints, 
these  infidels  would  have  it.  i\ay  verily,  but  you  are  aw- 
fully deceived  by  your  Father  the  devil,  whose  habitation 
you  are;  he  speaks  through  you.  Impossible!  what!  the  ha- 
ters of  God  and  the  persecutors  of  his  dear  children,  his 
bfaints,  from  city  to  city,  until  their  lif^^'s  blood  is  worried 
out  of  them,  live  together  in  a  never-endmg  eternity!  impos- 
sible! in  a  place  too  where  all  righteousness,  holiness,  and 
glory  abound,  where  the  Holy  God,  Jehovah,  is  enthroned, 
who  can  never,  no  never  bear  iniquity,  and  where  holy  an- 
gels minister  unto  him  in  His  courts  of  Glory;  worshipping 
andptaising,  and  before  whose  effulgence  the  Cherubims 
and  Seraphims  veil  their  fac  es,  worshipping  and  singing,  Ho- 
ly, Holy,  Holy,  Art  thou  Lord  God  Almighty,  who  was,  and 
is  to  come;  great  and  marvellous  are  thy  works,  just  and  true 
are  thy  ways,  thou  King  of  Saints;  Hallelujah,  the  Lord 
God  Omnipotent  reigneth.  Agaai,  I  repeat  it,  impossible 
that  the  vile,  the  abominable,  the  unbeliever,  the  scoffer  at 


THE  BLIND  RESTOR 'D  TO  SIGHT.  123 

God's  word,  the  adulterer,  the  fornicator,  the  whoremonger, 
and  the  more  filthy  than  swine,  the  beastly  buggurer^  the  mur- 
derer, the  robber,  the  drunkard,  the  extortioner,  the  witch- 
craft workers,  the  dealer  with  lamiliar  spirit-:,  with  devils, 
which  were  cast  out  of  heaven;  to  ihe  end  of  the  listol  evil 
doers  of  one  class  or  another.  Never!  no  never!!  But 
they  shall  all  be  destroyed  with  an  everlasting  destruction, 
from  the  face  of  the  whole  earth,  and  with  their  Father  the 
devil,  and  all  the  apostate  spirits,  be  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire 
and  brimstone,  where  the  worm  dieth  not  and  the  fire  is  nev- 
er quenched,  and  where  there  shall  be  weeping  and  wailing, 
and  gnashing  of  teeth  forever  and  ever. 

How  dreadfully  dark  and  benighted  the  understandings  of 
the  people  are  all  ovei  the  world  in  this  present  century; 
averse  to  all  that  has  a  tendency  to  impart  true  wisdom  and 
understanduig,  refinement  and  exaltation  of  soul,  are  given 
to  all  filthy  lewdness.  Even  this  nation,  the  most  highly 
favored  under  heaven,  has  become,  on  account  of  the  abom- 
inations of  the  people,  a  stink  in  Jehovah''s  nostiils,  a  huge 
dunghill  of  iniquity,  therefore  the  following  texts  are  very 
applicable  to  them,  "  Wherefore  the  Lord  said.  Forasmuch 
as  this  people  d.'-aw  near  me  with  their  mouth,  with  their 
lips  do  honor  me,  but  have  removed  their  heart  far  from  me, 
and  their  fear  toward  me  is  taught  by  the  precept  of  men — 
Therefore  behold  I  will  proceed  to  do  a  marvellous  work  and 
a  wonder;  for  the  wisdom  of  their  wise  men  shall  perish,  and 
the  understanding  of  their  prudent  men  shall  be  hid.  VVo 
unto  them  ihat  seek  deep  to  hide  their  counsel  from  the  Lord, 
and  their  works  are  in  the  dark,  and  they  say,  Who  seeth 
us?  and  who  knoweth  us?  Surely  your  turnmg  of  things  up- 
side down  shall  be  esteemed  as  the  potter's  clay;  for  shall  the 
work  say  of  him  that  made  it,  He  made  me  not!  or  shall  the 
thing  framed  say  of  him  that  framed  it.  He  had  no  under- 
standing.'' And  while  the  Lord  calls  for  mourning  and  repent- 
ance, the  following  texts  apply  pretty  closely,  "  Behold  joy, 
and  gladness,  slaying  oxen,  and  killing  sheep,  eating  flesh  and 


124  THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT. 

drinking  wine;  let  us  eat  and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we  shall 
die.  And  it  was  revealed  in  mine  ears  by  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
surfly  this  iniquity  shall  not  be  purged  from  you  till  ye  die, 
saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts."     [Isaiah.] 

*'i^et  the  potsherds  strive  with  the  potsherds  of  the  earth, 
but  woe  unto  him  thntstriveth  with  his  maker."  Thus  saith 
the  Lord,  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the  Mighty  One  of  Israel;  ''Ah 
1  will  ease  me  of  mine  adversaries,  and  avenge  me  of  mine 
eiiemi(^s." 

The  salvation  of  Jesus  avails  nothing  to  those  who  are  the 
enemies  of  his  cross,  who  are  the  rebellious  (children,  ever 
learning  and  never  abl »  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth,  speaking  evil  of  vital  Christianity,  and  the  powers  of 
true  Godliness,  which  are  a  mystery  to  them;  but  what  they 
know  naturally  as  brute  beasts,  in  those  things  they  corrupt 
themselves.  *'Woe  unto  them,  for  they  have  gone  in  the 
way  of  Cain,  and  ran  greedily  after  the  error  of  Baalam  for 
reward,  and  perished  in  the  gainsaying  of  C^re.  Raging 
waves  of  the  sea,  foaming  out  their  own  shame;  wandering 
stars,  to  whom  is  reserved  the  blackness  of  darkness  forever." 
Nay  verily,  all  they  that  trample  underfoot  the  words  and 
blood  of  our  dear  Saviour,  cannot  reasonably  expect  to  be 
cleansed  from  their  filth.  Suppose  you  were  sick — as  you 
really  all  are  that  are  unconverted — according  to  the  gosp^*l, 
"impotent,  lame  and  blind,  and  naked;"  and  a  ctlt-brated 
physician  had  a  remedy  that  might,  under  the  blessing  of 
God,  restore  you  to  s:>undness,  but  for  hatred  against  the 
physician,  or  some  other  cause,  you  will  not  call  upon  him 
for  his  cureall,  you  will  not  knock  at  his  door  to  be  relieved 
from  your  malady,  and  when  he  brings  the  medicine,  or  sends 
it  to  you,  you  trample  it  under  foot  instead  of  applying  it  as 
per  his  directions,  you  cannot  certainly  expect  to  be  bene- 
fitted by  It  in  restoring  you  to  health;  exactly  so  it  is  in  the 
case  o(  your  salvation,  you  are  diseased  sinners,  you  are  all 
dying  mortals,  and  the  blessed  Christ  is  continually  calling 
upon  you  to  have  faith  in  him,  to  knock  at  his  merciful  door 


THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT.  125 

and  it  should  be  opened,  to  ask  and  you  should  receive  free 
salvation,  without  money  and  price;  be  restored  to  soundness 
of  niind  and  soul,  so  as  to  enjoy  the  blessedness  of  heaven, 
sweet  communion  with  our  blessed.  Heavenly  Father,  and 
thus  partly  experience  the  peace  and  bliss  of  our  brethren, 
the  Holy  Angels,  and  in  due  time  be  numbrred  with  them  m 
Jehovah's  Glory,  to  serve,  adore  and  praise  hrni  forever  and 
ever.  The  bhnd  man  had  to  go  as  he  was  bid  and  wash;  he 
did  so  and  received  his  sight,  and  so  will  every  one  receive 
remission  of  sins  that  humbles  himself,  and  does  according 
to  the  words  of  Christ,  and  his  true  ambassadors.  Proud  Na- 
man,aslongas  he  remained  stubborn,  as  long  as  he  stiffened 
his  neck,  his  leprosy  remained  upon  him,  but  when  he  hum- 
bh»d  himself  and  did  as  he  was  counnanded  he  became  pu- 
rified, free  from  his  disease;  but  had  he  not  obeyed,  he  would 
have  died  in  his  filth;  and  so  shall  it  be  with  every  one  of 
you;  repent  and  live;  disregard  the  call  and  you  perish  ever- 
lastingly, and  be  doomed  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone. 
O,  I  therefore  now  warn  you  to  be  wiic,  to  flee  to  the  out- 
stretched arms  of  mercy,  extended  by  Jesus  whose  Hood 
cleanses  from  all  sins;  to  make  your  peace  speedily  with 
God,  who  wishes  you  well,  who  desires  that  you  should  be 
saved  through  the  bloody  sweat  and  agony  of  Jesus;  which 
his  boundless  love  caused  him  to  endure  for  your  soul's  sal- 
vation, and  who  has  no  pleasure  in  your  death,  but  rather 
that  you  would  repent  to  God,  have  a  vital  faith  in  him 
and  live.  May  hundreds  and  thousands  yet  in  the  eleventh 
hour,  find  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  be  saved  through  Je^ius. — 
and  may  all  my  brethren  in  Christ  find  abundance  of  re- 
freshings from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  whose  "grace,  may 
it  be  sufficient  for  our  day,"  and  "his  strength  be  made  per- 
fect in  our  weakness;"  and  we  may  thus  glorify  his  name, 
and  depart  rejoicing  in  our  God  and  Saviour;  have  part  in 
the  first  resurrection,  and  after  the  judgment  morning  inherit 
the  i\ew  Heavens  and  New  Earth,  with  the  Holy  Angels, 
and  all  the  Redeemed  from  the  earth,  to  worship  God  in  his 
glory,  sing  his  praise  forever  and  ever.     Amen  and  Amen. 


DiscorRSE  :ki. 

ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT. 

No  man,  when  he  hath  lighted  a  candle,  covereth  it  with  a  ves- 
sel, or  p-utteth  it  under  a  bed ;  but  setteth  it  on  a  candle&tick, 
that  ihey  which  enter  in  may  see  the  light. 

For  nothing  is  secret  that  shall  not  be  made  manifest ',  neither 
anything  hid  that  shall  not  be  known,  and  come  abroad. 

Take  heed  therefore,  how  ye  hear :  for  whosoever  hath,  to  him 
shall  be  given  ;  avd  whosoever  hath  not,  from  him  shall  be 
takm  even  that  which  he  seemeth  to  have. 

[Luke,  Sth  Chap,  \eth,\'7th  §"  ^Sth verses. 

In  this  world  of  sin  and  darkness,  where  day  and  night 
reign  ahernately,  artificial  lights  are  absolutely  necessary, 
for  the  convenience  of  man,  and  for  the  comfort  and  happi- 
ness ol  society  ;  our  blessed  Saviour,  therefore,  refers  to  the 
lighting  of  a  candle,  and  of  placing  it  upon  a  candlestick, 
not  hiding  it  under  a  bed,  that  those  entering  in  may  see  the 
light.  1-1  ow  much  more  miserable  would  the  state  of  the 
human  family  be,  were  it  not  for  this  blessing  from  Him,  from 
whom  comes  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  the  Father  of  light 
and  giory.  In  Lapland,  and  other  parts  of  the  world,  the 
people  would  be  in  almost  total  darkness  — the  sun  shining 
upon  them  only  a  few  hours  a  day,  while  darkness  reigns 
predominant — the  melancholy  and  forlorn  state  of  the  in- 
habitants dwelling  in  those  regions  may  be  easily  imagined, 
even  with  the  means  and  use  of  artificial  light,  their  condi- 
tion must  be  wretched  in  the  extreme ;  and  to  add  to  this 
tempoial,  external  night,  the  internal,  the  spiritual  darkness 
of  their  souls,  without  a  ray  of  light  from  the  Eternal  re- 
gions of  Glory — as  was  the  case  until  lately — to  brighten  up 
the  prospects  of  a  more  glorious  state  after  this  was  ended. 


ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT.  |27 

But  within  late  years  the  glorious  gospel  light  dawned  upon 
those  benighted  people,  and  the  Day  Spring  from  on  High, 
to  enlighten  them  that  sit  in  the  shadow  of  dt^ath ;  conse- 
quently, the  Day  Star  arose  in  many  hearts,  and  illuminated 
many  understandings,  so  that  they  now  have  joy  and  rejoic- 
ing in  the  glorious  Sun  ol  Kighteousness,  our  blessed  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  knowledge  of  the  remission 
of  sins  through  him,  in  being  reconciled  to  the  holy  Image 
of  Jehovah,  who  is  not  ashamed  to  be  their  F'ather,  and 
honor  them  even  above  many  of  christian  nations — so  called 
— who,  while  they  have  the  light  will  not  walk  therein,  that 
they  may  be  children  of  light,  but  love  darkness  rather  than 
light  because  of  their  evil  deeds;  their  abominations  and 
crime. 

Christ,  in  whom  shone  the  glory  of  our  Heavenly  Father, 
"  was  the  true  Light,  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  the  world  ;"  yea  verily,  for  there  is  no  other  light  than 
his  in  the  whole  Universe:  when  he  said,  "  let  their  be  light," 
while  in  the  act  of  creating  all  things,  and  darkness  held  do- 
minion, immediately,  the  resplendent  Sun  reflected  his  glory, 
wilh  the  n)ilder  moon  ;  planets,  and  comets,  and  stars  inim- 
mr-rable  ;  all  dazzling  in  splendor  and  brilliancy,  exhibiting 
the  effulgent  glory  and  sinjjing  the  praise  of  their  great  Cre- 
ator, v.'ho  is  all  *"  l/ight,  and  in  Him  there  is  no  darkness 
at  all ;"  in  the  perfection  of  His  glory  in  heaven,  no  gloom 
or  darkness  can  possibly  exist ;  the  glorious  Ch»  rubims  and 
Seraphims  veil  their  fares,  while  worshipping  in  Jehovah's 
glory,  and  the  Holy  Angels  are  all  glorious  as  suns  and  stars; 
and  as  lor  human  bein^^s,  they  could  not  behold  with  their 
eyes  of  flesh  the  one  thousandth  part  thereof,  for  none  can 
behold  God,  as  he  is,  and  live. 

'j'he  blessed  Christ,  when  here  below,  was  emphatically 
the  light  of  the  world;  for  says  he  himself,  "  Vv  hih^  I  am  in 
the  world  1  am  the  light  of  the  world;"  1  therefore,  forwarn 
you  all  to  beware  of  false  lights,  whether  directly  from  the 
devil,  the  old  beast  and  infernal  conjurur,  through  his  magic 


128  ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT. 

and  witchcraft-workings,  or  whether  by  men,  who  pretend  to 
reflpct  the  light  and  glory  o?  the  Deity,  but  are  wolves  in 
sheep's  clothing ;  by  scrutinizing  them  a  Utile  you  will  easily 
discern  their  hypocrasy,  for  they  cannot  bear  to  be  examin- 
ed closely,  particularly  by  the  chosen  of  the  Lord,  because 
of  the  perniciousness  of  their  fruit,  "  for,"  as  it  is  written, 
"  by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them  ;"  be  ye,  therefore,  not 
deceived,  1  caution  you,  be  ye  not  deceived  by  them,  for  the 
scripture  says  expressly  that  in  the  last  days  there  shall  be 
many  surh  abroad,  and  that  if  possible,  they  would  deceive 
the  "  very  elect ;"  by  looking  at  men  and  things  liow  do  you 
conclude  as  respects  the  indication  of  the  present  times ; 
earthquakes,  famines,  pestilences,  wars  and  rumors  of  wars  ; 
men's  hearts  failitig  them  for  fear,  and  by  beholding  the 
things  that  are  coming  upon  the  earth  -,  there  shall  be  a  great 
falling  off  in  the  church,  and  it  shall  be  as  at  the  time  of 
Noah  and  the  destruction  of  Sodom  and  Gomorah  ;  and  are 
not  these  signs  predominent  now,  and  the  abominations  and 
crimes  perpetrated  by  the  people  like  unto  those  of  the  old 
world,  and  particularly  of  Sodom  and  Gomorah. 

Our  adorable  Saviour  while  going  about  doing  good  to 
the  children  of  men,  healing  their  sick,  restoring  their  blind, 
cleant^ing  their  leapers,  liberating  their  possessed  of  devils, 
thus  setting  the  captives  free,  preachmg  the  acceptable  year 
of  I  he  Lord  and  urging  men  to  repentance,  to  a  holy  walk 
and  conver.=aiion,  to  have  faith  in  him  as  the  true  Messiah 
and  only  Saviour,  thus  have  the  promise  of  the  life  that  now 
is  and  that  which  is  to  come,  for  says  he,  "  None  cometh 
unto  the  Father  but  by  me."  "In  him,"  therefore,  "was 
Life,  and  the  Life  was  the  Light  of  men;"  and  the  light 
shineth  in  darkness,  and  the  darkness  comprehended  it  not." 
Yea,  verily,  darkness  covered  the  earth  and  gross  darkness 
the  people,  who  indulged  in  all  manner  of  idolatries,  were 
given  to  bigotry  and  superstition ;  ahenau  d  from  a  life  of 
godliness ;  living  without  hope  and  without  God  in  the 
woild;  who   were  strangers  to   the  covenant  of  promise ; 


ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT.  129 

self  willed,  perverse  and  stiff  necked  ;  whose  hearts  were  as 
adamant  or  the  "  nether  millstone  ;"  who  went  about  estab- 
lishing their  own  righteousness  in  the  face  of  ths  glorious 
Sun  of  Righteousness,  who  was  now  sojourning  upon  and 
illuminating  the  earth  ;  but  these  deluded  creatures  of  dark- 
ness could  not  comprehend  nor  understand  the  wisdom  of 
God  in  the  face  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  O  the  riches  both 
of  the  love  and  wisdom  of  God,  in  sending  his  only  begotten 
Son  to  atone  for  the  sins  of  the  world. 

Notwithstanding  his  miraculous  deeds,  his  heavenly  les- 
sons, his  instructions  in  the  way  of  life,  enlightening  the  dark 
souls  of  men  which  sat  in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death  ; 
his  deeds  thus  wrought  in  God  reflecting  his  glory  produced 
a  fame  which  could  not  be  suppressed,  but  spread  into  all 
lands.  Notwithstanding  1  repeat,  all  his  virtues  thus  made 
manifest,  the  world  knew  him  not^  and  "He  came  unto  his 
own  and  his  own  received  him  not."  "  But  as  many  as 
received  him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to  become  the  sons  of 
God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on  his  name." 

All  christians  are  compared  to  lights  :  "ye  are  the  lights 
of  the  world,"  says  our  blessed  Saviour,  and  "  let  your  light 
so  shine  before  men  that  they  may  see  your  good  works 
and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven."  Some  chris- 
tians may  be  compared  to  suns,  others  to  stars  of  greater  or 
less  magnitude,  shining  and  reflecting  the  glory  of  their  God 
and  Saviour,  in  love  to  him  and  our  fellow  men,  in  keeping 
his  commandments,  and  worshipping  Jehovah  in  the  b  auiies 
of  holiness,  attributing  all  the  praise  to  him,  who  is  God  over 
all,  blessed  forevermore  ;  in  bringing  forth  fruit  unto  holi- 
ness, thirty,  Mxty  and  an  hundred  fold.  We  are  likewise, 
"  the  excellent  o(  the  earth  and  the  salt  of  the  earth  ;"  let 
us,  therefore,  walk  worthy  of  our  high  and  holy  calling,  re- 
deeming the  time  for  the  days  are  evil,  not  minding  the 
things  of  time,  which  are  perishable,  but  those  more  endu- 
ring which  pertain  to  eternal  life.  "For  all  flesh  is  as  grass 
and  all  the  glory  thereof  as  the  flower  of  the  field,  the  grass 

11 


130  ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT. 

withers,  tiie  flower  thereof  fadeth  away,  but  the  word  of  the 
Lord  endureth  forever."     O  that   we  may  always  have  a 
living  faith  in  our  blessed  God,  the  Rock  of  our  Salvation, 
and  tremble  to  disobey  his  words  and  commandments,  but  by 
keeping  them,  evince  our  love  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  as 
our  blessed  Saviour  says  :  "Fie   that  hath   my   comnmnd- 
ments,  and  keepeth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me;  and  he 
that  loveth  me,  shall  be  loved  of  my  Faiher,  and  I  will  I've 
him,  and  will  manifest  myself  to  him,"  St.  John,  14th  chap. 
We  are,  therefore,  the  temples  of  the   Holy  Ghost,  let  us 
walk  unblamably  in  holiness  with  God  as  our  brethren  be- 
fore us  also  did,  Enoch,  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob;  Kljah 
and  David  and  all  »he  other  prophets  and  glorious  Apostles 
of  the  Lamb,  and  the  noble  company  of  Saints  and  Marlyrs 
who  suffered  for  his  name's  sake  and  testified  to  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  who  ended  their  course  with  joy  and 
are  now  rejoicing  in  the  blessedness  of  heaven.     O  that  we 
may  tread  the  paths  of  peace  and  holiness,  that  our  delight 
be  more  and  moie  in  God,  and  to  meditate  in  his  word  to 
be,  through   faith  in  Jesus,   refreshed  from  his  immediate 
presence,  so  that  by  the  accompanying  duties  of  fastings, 
prayer  and  praise,  our  souls  may  always  be  as  watered  gar- 
dens; as  cities  on  hills  and  lights  that  cannot  be  hid,  eleva- 
ted through  Jesus,  into  high  and  heavenly  places,  reflecting 
at  all  times  and  in  all  places  the  glory  of  our  dear  Saviour; 
that  the  language  of  our  hearts  may  be  at  all  times  like 
unto  our  brother  St.  PauPs  :  "  for  us  to  live  is  Christ  and  to 
die  is  gain,"  and  "  that  we  would  rather  be  absent  from  the 
body  and  present  with  the  Lord,"  and  finally,  "  that  we  have 
fought  the  good  fight,  have  finished  our  course,  have  kept  the 
faith."     "  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  us  a   crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  ihe  righteous  Judge,  shall 
give  us  at  that  day :  and  not  to  us  only,  but  unto  all  them 
also  that  love  his  appearing."     iVlay  we  be  thus  prepared 
with  the  loins  of  our  minds  girded,  our  lamps  with  oil  sup- 
phed,  trimmed  and  ready  to  meet  our  glorious   Heavenly 


ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT,  131 

Bridegroom,  to  enter  wiih  the  Holy  Angels  and  all  the  re- 
deenjed  Sainls,  into  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb,  and 
sing  with  them  the  high  praises  of  our  blessed  God  and 
Saviour,  forever  and  ever. 

I'he  above  refers  to  individual  members  of  Christ's  churcfr, 
descriptions  of  the  lummaries  contributing  to  her  glory,  and 
are  the  real  glory  of  nations,  that  wtnch  is  esteejned  and 
appreciated  in  the  courts  of  light  on  high,  by  the  King  of 
Glory,  Jehovah,  who  is  all  glorious  and  attended  by  mujis- 
ters  reflectmg  his  splendor;  their  heaven  is  the  perfection 
of  grandeur,  pomp  and  dignity,  majesty  and  glory,  where  no 
darkness  at  all  exists,  but  inde-cribable  dazzling  brilliancy; 
righteousness,  holiness  and  eternal  glory;  therefore  the  earth- 
ly glory  ol  nations  is  nothing,  less  then  vanity  in  comparison 
to  the  perfection  ot  beauty  displayed  in  the  third  heavens 
where  the  Deity  is  perfect,  where  the  King  of  Kings  is  en- 
throned and  holds  his  ievees;  where  the  God  of  battles  has 
his  shining  hosts  all  in  glorious  array,  where  the  Cherubims 
and  Seraphims,  Angels  and  A rch-Angels,  together  with  hosts 
ol  Sainls  and  Martyrs,  are  attending  on  Jehovah  in  his  re- 
splendent glory;  the  nearer  the  nations  of  the  world  approach 
the  splendor  on  high  the  more  exalted  they  are,  as  the  Most 
High  is  all  light,  lustre  and  glory,  and  apnit  from  Him  is  all 
darkness;  the  sun,  moon  and  stars  which  illuminate  the  earth 
reflect  only  part  of  the  blessed  God's  glory,  and  was  n,  not 
for  this  we  should  be  in  utter  darkness,  therefore  all  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth  rombined  cannot  compete  with  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  God,  they  are  absolutely  insignificant  and  can- 
not possibly  pretend  thereunto,  except  only  by  practicing 
righteousness  and  holiness,  for  all  their  other  gaudiness, 
show,  and  trappings  are  perishable  as  the  fading  leaf  of 
autumn  and  their  glory  disappears  as  the  misty  cloud  of 
the  morning,  their  fleshly  bodies  turn  to  corruption  and  their 
never  dying  souls  descend  into  the  never  ending  gulph  of 
despair  and  torment,  where  darkness  reigns  supreme  and 
foul  demons  have  their  habitation. 


132  QN  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT. 

Thus  the  lying  vanities  of  earthly  nations  are  disposed  of 
by  Jehovah — who  reigns  supreme — from  the  presence  of  his 
glo.y;  the  souls  and  bodies  of  Kings  and  Queens,  Lords, 
high  Captains  and  mighty  men;  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor 
indiscnminately  into  the  bottomless  pit,  for  God  is  liO  res. 
pecterof  persons;  *'the  soul  that  sinneth  it  shall  die.''  The 
greater  number  of  true  christians,  the  lights  of  the  world, 
an)ong  the  nations  of  the  earth,  the  greater  also  the  heaven- 
ly radia,  and  therefore  by  consequence  the  nation  havmg  the 
the  largest  number  of  the  most  dexoted  and  zealous  men  in 
the  cause  of  Christ,  of  the  most  righteous  and  holy  champi- 
ons for  the  truth;  heroes  to  fight  the  battle.^  of  the  Lord; — 
"Curse  ye,  curse  ye  bitterly  the  inhabiters  of  Vleroz,  because 
thf'y  come  not  up  to  fight  the  battles  ol  the  Lord;— the  bat- 
tles of  the  Lord  against  the  Mighty."  Christ,  our  blessed 
Saviour,  inculcates  mercy  and  that  we  should  pray  for  our 
enemies;  I  introduce  theiefore,  the  above  curse  not  to  bear 
particularly  upon  this  nation,  but  to  put  persons  in  mind 
that  the  battles  of  their  souls  and  for  the  glory  of  our  blessed 
Heavenly  Father  are  the  most  impoitant.  I'he  nation 
oui numbering  in  this  respect,  has  some  cause  to  boast 
of  and  to  glory  and  recei\e  the  approbation  of  the  Lord 
of  Hosts;  while  those  that  make  earthly  things  their  pride, 
glory  in  tb  ir  shame  and  are  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of 
heaven,  and  less  than  the  small  dust  of  the  ballance,  and 
lighter  than  vanity. 

The  champions  of  the  cross,  the  true  hghts  of  this  nations, 
seem  to  be  very  few  in  number,  and  far,  very  far  apart,  al- 
though the  land  is  full  of  churches,  and  churchgoing  people, 
but  when  you  examine  them  closely  you  will  find  the  greatest 
number  to  be  like  unto  the  Jack-o-lanthorn,  or  mysterious 
lights  arising  from  marshes,all  deception, and  whose  glory  em- 
anates from  the  bottomless  pit:  the  real  fact  is,  they  have  none 
are  under  the  control  of  the  old  deceiver,  Satan,  and  conse- 
quently hate  the  Feather  of  light  and  glory,  from  whom  com- 
elh  every  good  and  perfect  gift;  because  of  their  evil  deeds 
and  works  of  darkness,  they  ever  shun  the  light,  lest  theiff 


ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT.  13S 

deeds  should  be  made  manifest  and  reproved;  therefore,  per- 
sons at  a  distance  are  often  misled,  and  made  to  beheve  that 
this  and  timt  nation  are  truly  refined  and  exalted,  when 
alas,  their  righteousness  and  hohness  is  but  too  much  like 
the  chaff  of  the  mid-summer's  threshing  floor,  w  lich  the 
wind  drives  away  ;  it  is  all  a  fictiiious  fabrication,  like  unto 
filthy  rays,  akin  to  theirs  who  slew  the  ''Lord  ourRighteous- 
ness,"  and  can  never  be  approved  of  by  him  who  is  altogeth- 
er Holy,  and  commands  all  men  every  where  to  repent 
and  be  Holy  as  he  is  Holy,  and  whose  eyes  are  as  flames  of 
fire;  it  is  therefore  impossible  to  mock  or  deceive  him  with 
a  foreign  article,  with  self-righteouness,  and  finally  enter  his 
kingdom  by  saying,  "  Lord,  Loid,  we  have  prophesied  in  thy 
name,  we  have  cast  out  devils  in  thy  name,  and  done  many 
wonderful  works,"  when  he  shall  reply  and  say,  "1  never 
knew  you,  depart  from  me  all  ye  workers  of  iniquity,  into 
the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his 
angels,  from  the  loundation  of  the  world." 

For  nothing  is  secret  that  shall  not  be  made  manifest ;  neither 
anything  hid,  that  shall  not  be  known  and  come  abroad. 
The  disgraceful  deeds,  the  humiliating  acts,  to  human 
nature,  which  filthy  sinners  have  the  baseness  to  commit 
with  one  another  in  the  dark,  although  apart  "from  the  ex- 
cellent of  the  earth,''  and  obscured  from  mortal  sight,  from 
those  that  are  "  the  lights  of  the  world  ;"  yet  they  are  sur- 
veyed by  the  Eye  o(  Omniscience,  by  the  Eye  of  Him  with 
whom  we  have  to  do,  and  who  seeth  into  th**  dark  cham- 
bers of  the  earth,  who  is  every  where  present;  yea,  the  Holy- 
God  beholds  the  midnight  murderer  with  his  bands  imbued 
in  blood,  and  hears  th(?  screams  of  the  innocent  victim  that 
fell  his  prey;  the  brutish  drunkard  in  his  night  reveilings  at 
some  brothel,  while  his  wife  and  children  are  neglected  and 
in  want,  he  only  too  often  spends  their  hard  earmngs  togeth- 
er with  his  own,  and  then  insults  and  beats  them  about  like 
a  foul  demon;  the  yet  more  beastly  buggurer  at  his  dirty  work, 


134  ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT. 

disgracing  human  nature  by  his  low,  filthy  operations  ;  drs- 
gusiing  the  nostrils  of  Jehovah  who  is  every  where  present, 
aiid  although  he  may  thnik  no  one  kriows  it  or  sees  him,  yet 
hiS  abomination  shall  be  made  manifest ;  to  all  these,  w^rse 
than  bi'astly  creatures,  1  would  say,  yet  not  1  but  the  Lord 
in  uif',  remember  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  \  the  unprincipled 
adulterei,  destroyer  of  domestic  peace,  family  comlort  and 
happiness,  by  defiling  his  neighbour's  wife,  who  was  esteenied 
sacied  to  him  before  God  and  man;  the  fornicator  and  vile 
S'  du'er  of  virgin  innocence,  by  his  sly  artifices  ruining  for 
life  the  fair  prospects  of  many  a  one,  who  like  a  lovely  fiow- 
ei ,  auii;ible  and  sweet  as  the  lilley,  and  that  might  have  been 
th<^  joy  of  her  parents  and  afi()ided  many  happy  hours  of  An- 
gt'lic  bliss  to  a  kind  husband,  is  thus  blasted  in  her  early 
bloom  and  d()on)ed  to  wither  and  d(^cay,  and  end  her  days 
in  despair,  surely  a  just  God  will  speedily  biing  such  wretch- 
es to  account  ;  the  roi)ber  and  the  thief,  who  too  lazy  to  earn 
an  honest  livelihood,  rob  the  sojourning  stranger  and  plunder 
thi  ii  neighbour's  houses  ;  the  gambler  at  his  midnight  board, 
surrounded  by  his  brethren,  think  they  have  excluded  them- 
sef  es  Irom  all  eyes,  not  reflecting  that  there  is  one  which 
scans  the  nethermost  parts  of  the  earth  and  hell,  which  they 
camiot  possibly  escape,  for  God  looks  throughout  all  worlds 
and  beholds  the  minutest  objects  in  the  most  distait  part  of 
the  Universe,  let  them  dread  his  vengeance  ;  the  oppressor  ; 
the  extortioner;  the  spoiler  of  widows  and  orphans;  the  pro- 
fane swearer  and  Sabbath-breaker,  with  many  other  abomi- 
nable crimes  which  men  commit  openly  and  in  secret,  they 
•shall  all  be  made  manifest,  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath 
spoken  it.  And  last  though  not  least,  but  of  enormous  mag- 
nitude, the  witchcraft  worker  and  dealer  with  familiar  spirits^ 
who  IS  in  direct  intercourse  with  the  spirits  of  hell  and 
darkness,  in  league  with  the  devil,  the  greatest  enemy  of  his 
soul,  yet  he  puts  himself  upon  a  level  with  him,  and  has  con- 
tinual communion  with  these  foul  spirits  to  annoy  and  tor- 
ment his  fellow-beings,  and  commit  ali  manner  of  filty  lewd- 


ON  SPIRITUAL  LTGHr.  135 

ness,  abominations  and  whoredoms,  and  thinks  he  is  secure 
in  8t'(  retly  co-vvorkmg  with  the.- e  infernal  demons,  yet  his 
works  of  darkness  shall  be  known,  and  his  nasty  deeds  shall 
come  abroad. 

But  when  a  nation  is  thus  degraded  that  this  last  crime 
is  considered  as  wisdom,  and  est(emed  rather  an  accom- 
phshment  than  otherwise,  so  that  the  children  of  parents  are 
instructed  in  this  hellish  '''black  art,'''  and  the  whole  country 
is  t^nshrined  in  its  infernal  and  pernicous  influences,  v\hen  a 
nation  has  become  thus  beastly,  like  unto  ihe  Sodomites  lost 
to  al'  decency  and  sliame,  committing  iniquity  with  greedi- 
ness, and  glorying  in  their  shame,  having  put  the  lear  of  Uod 
awHv  from  before  them,  from  out  of  their  hearts,  trample 
under  his  holy  words  and  commandments,  and  the  laws  of 
their  own  country,  which  no  doubt  good  men,  under  the  in- 
flux nee  of  the  Holy  God,  have  framed  for  the  punishment 
of  evil-doers,  and  preservaiion  o(  tlx*  peace,  comfort,  and 
hapi)iness  of  the  people  it  requir(  s  but  little  sagacity  to  be 
convinced  that  their  downfall  is  near  at  hand,  and  a  just  God 
will  avenge  himself  upon  a  iiation  like  this.  The  following 
therefore  may  not  b^^  much  amiss,  ^'Wherefore  hear  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  ye  scornful  men,  that  rule  this  people, 
because  ye  have  said.  We  have  made  a  covenant  with 
deaiii,  and  with  hell  are  we  at  agreement;  when  the  over- 
flowing scourge  shall  pass  through,  it  shall  not  come  unto 
us:  for  we  have  made  him  our  refuge,  and  under  falsehood 
have  we  hid  ourselves;  and  your  covenant  with  death  shall 
be  disannulled,  and  your  agreement  with  hell  shall  not  stand; 
when  the  overflowing  scourge  shall  pass  through,  then  ye 
shall  be  trodden  down  by  it.  From  the  time  that  it  goeth 
forth  it  shall  take  you:  for  morning  by  morning  shall  it  pass 
over;  by  day  and  by  night:  and  it  shall  be  a  vexation  only  to 
understand  the  report.''     [Isaiah,  28th  chap.] 


136  ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT. 

Take  heed  therefore  how  ye  hear]  for  whosoever  hath,  to  him 
shall  be  given-,  and  whosoever  hath  not^  from  him  shall  be 
taken  even  that  ijjhich  he  seemeth  to  have. 
As  in  ihe  beginning  part  of  this  discourse,  so  here  again,  i 
caution  you  to  beware  of  "  fals^  hghts  :"  for  all  men  havt^  not 
a  living  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord,  Saviour,  and  Media- 
tor, but  give  heed  to  seducing  spirits  and  doctrines  of  devils, 
according  to  the  written  word  of  our  dear  Lord,  that  so  it 
should  be  in  the  last  days  ;  it  is  stamped  upon  the  features 
of  the  times,  and  their  indication  is,  that  verily  we  are  in 
them  now,  and  that  this  is  ihe  period  to  try  men''ssui(ls — I  ord 
Jesus  be  merciful — when  all  the  world  have  gone  astray, 
have  gone  a  whoreing,  with  strange  inventions — with  famdiar 
spnits — are  therefore  on  the  ssde  of  the  devil,  in  league  w ith 
legions  of  these  wicked  spirits,  and  in  open  rebellion  and  war 
against  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  who  will,  in  due  time,  bring  all 
their  pride,  ihf  ir  pomp  and  their  glory,  unto  the  dung-heai  ; 
and  "  the  abomination  and  the  mouse  shall  be  destroyed  to- 
gether;" he.l  from  beneath,  is  opening  wide  her  mouth,  and 
all  the  wicked,  with  the  nations  that  forget  God,  with  their 
Father  the  devil,  and  all  his  leg'.ons  in  the  air,  shall  de- 
scend into  it  forever  and  ever.  Tdke  heed  therfore  how  ijt 
hear.  "  Faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word 
of  God,"  very  many  are  fonH  of  novelty,  in  these  times,  have 
an  ambi  ion  to  create  a  fame  lor  themselves  and  families  at 
the  hazard  of  then-  souls,  and  the  ill  effects  upon  society, 
upon  their  fellow  beings,  who  suffer  themselves  to  be  lead 
about  by  them,  whirh  it  is  to  be  feared  too  many  do,  having 
itchmg  ears  for  something  new  ;  tt>  all  such  the  text  applies 
particularly, "  Take  heed  how  ye  hear,"  keep  yourselves  to 
sound  doctrine ;  the  doctrine  once  delivered  to  the  ^'aints, 
and  if  they  speak  not  according  to  the  "  word  and  the  testi- 
mony" reject  them,  and  let  the  spirit  ofour  Heavenly  Father 
speaking  in  the  Bible,  particularly  in  the  testament,  teach 
you  •,  and  if  any  man  teach  any  other  doctrine  than  that 
taught  in  that  holy  volume  of  inspitation,  "let  him  be  ac- 
cursed."    Therefore,  be  ye  aware  how  ye  hear,  compare  the 


ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT.  137 

language  of  men  with  the  word  of  the  hlessed  God  and  de- 
cide accordingly,  lay  hold  on  eternal  life  through  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ,  "  for  by  grace  are  we  saved  through  faith,  and 
not  of  ourselves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God  lest  any  man  should 
boast,"  repent,  therefore,  repent  spt^edily  to  God  and  b<l;eve 
in  Jesus,  and  do  his  commandments,  thus  manifest  your 
love  to  our  God  and  Saviour,  and  lay  up  for  yourselves  treas- 
ures in  heaven,  "  where  moths  cannot  corrupt  nor  thieves 
break  through  and  steal,"  but  where,  in  the  joy  o*  our  Dear 
Lord  and  Father,  it  shall  endure  asd  increase  foreverm're. 
For  ichosoever  hath,  to  him  sh  dl  he  givnij  and  whosoever  hath 

not,  from  him  shall  be  taken  even  that  which  ht  seemeth  to 

have. 

in  temporals  as  well  as  spirituals  we  are  commanded  by 
our  heavenly  Father  to  be  libeial  to  our  f  How  bein^is  so- 
journing with  us  towards  eternity  ;  the  rich  are  particularly 
admonished  to  practice  humility  and  charity,  tod«stribine  to 
the  poor,  to  minister  to  the  sick  and  afflicted  such  things  as 
they  may  want,  to  relieve  them  in  their  disiressed  states,  and 
add  to  their  comfort  and  happiness  in  this  world,  so  that 
their  hearts  may  beconje  lifted  up,  inspired  with  gfatitude, 
love,  reverence  and  praise  lo  their  heaveidy  Feather,  the  au- 
thor of  every  good  and  perfect  gift;  who  supplies  the  waists 
of  all  living  creatures,  and  "  not  a  sparrow  fallelh  to  the 
ground  without  his  knowledge  ;"  the  earth  is  his,  and  the 
fulness  thereof,  the  gold  and  the  sdver  and  the  cattle  on  a 
thousand  hills.  The  Lord  of  Life  and  Glory,  therrfore.  has 
a  right  to  command  and  expect  worsliip  and  obedience  iVom 
all  his  subjects,  whom  he  assures  that  they  shall  be  re[)aid 
with  an  increase,  *'with  good  measure,  pressed  down,  heaped 
up  and  running  over  ;"  and  that  they  that  "  cast  their  bn  ad 
upon  the  wa'ers  shall  find  i(  agaiii  after  many  days;"  these 
promises,  fraught  with  such  condescension  and  kindness 
from  Jehovah,  who  is  abundantly  able  to  reward,  in  time 
and  eternitv,  every  one  would  do  well  to  heed,  for  when- 
ever h-  pleasi  s  he  can  send  leanness  upon  the  earth,  into 
the  soms  of  the  children  of  men,  and  whenever  he  pleas- 


138  ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT. 

es  ran  cause  the  earth  to  abound,  and  also  the  souls  of  the 
children  of  men,  spiritually,  from  .Viount  Sion,  with  love, 
psaise,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost;  with  wisdom,  lighteous- 
ness,  sancttfication  and  redeniption;  yea  verily,  with  (ull  sal- 
vation, if  they  apply  properly  for  the  blessing,  by  repentance 
to  our  blessed  God  and  by  believing  in  Jesus  Christ,  mani- 
festing love  unfained,  by  keeping  his  words  and  command- 
ments, and  walking  unblamably  with  him  in  holiness;  an 
increase  of  grace  shall  be  given  to  all  such,  for  the  mouth  of 
the  Lord  hath  spoken  it,  and  by  enduring  to  the  end  eternal 
life  and  felicity,  in  Jehovah's  kingdom  of  glory. 

The  Almighty  Father  blesses  all  his  children  more  or  less 
with  earthly  substance,  with  treasure  to  be  sure,  that  is  per- 
ishable, and  doomed  to  decay  as  the  grass  of  the  field,  but 
th^'U  for  a  season,  for  timely  use,  it  is  very  desirable  for  the 
preservation  of  the  life  that  now  is,  for  the  comfort  and  hap- 
piness of  the  human  family;  therefore,  those  that  have  much 
are  commanded  to  be  libejal  to  those  that  have  none,  for  the 
Good  Lord  delights  in  the  cheerful  giver;  as  for  instance, 
the  Widc^w's  mite,  who  with  a  cheerful  heart  threw  into  the 
treasury  all  her  living,  and  thus  manifested  her  love  to  God 
and  her  neighbors,  and  laid  up  treasure  in  heaven.  "He 
that  loveth  silver  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  silver,  nor  he  that 
loveth  abundance;  the  earth  is  for  all;  the  king  hijnse/f\s  served 
by  the  field."  It  i^,  therefore,  wisdom  not  to  over  value  the 
things  of  time,  the  riches  of  this  world,  for  they  are  not  last- 
ing treasures  like  unto  those  from  above  ;  the  salvation  of  the 
soul  through  the  exercise  of  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  our  L.ord,  for 
by  our  faith  we  overcome  the  world,  its  riches,  pleasures, 
pomp  and  vanity,  and  quench  every  fiery  dart  of  Satan.  Let 
us  always  covet  the  best  gifts,  read  and  hear  the  word  under- 
standingly,  so  that  we  may  aboufid  and  have  increase  of 
knowledge,  wisdom  and  understanding ;  faith,  hope,  peace* 
love  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  thus  employ  our  talents  to 
the  very  best  advantage  ;  "  for  whosoever  hath  to  him  shall 
be  given" — according  to  our  text,  shall  we  have  greater  and 
continual  blessings  flowing  to  us  from  our  Heavenly  Father, 


ON  SPIRITUAL  LIGHT.  139 

the  Most  High  God,  while  those  who  bury  their  talents,  or 
make  use  of  ihem  hypocritical ;y,  despising  the  true  gtlis  of 
God,  although  they  may  seeni  to  have,  yei  are  they  but  as 
"  Sfujnding  brass  and  a  tinkling  cyml)a  ,"  "  and  whosoever 
hath  not,  from  iiim  shall  be  'aken  even  that  which  he  seemeth 
to  have."  Hear!  Hear!!  O  ye  dying  mortals,  hear  the  words 
of  the  Lord,  "  1  am  the  resurrection,  and  the  life:  he  that 
believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live  :  and 
whosoever  livelh,  and  believeth  in  me,  shall  never  die." 
"Turn  ye,  therefore,Turn  ye,  for  why  will  ye  ilie,"  "He  that 
believeth  not  shall  be  damned  ;"  Surely  no  one,  according  to 
reason,  ought  to  desire  damnation  in  preference  to  the  bles- 
sings of  salvation  ;  theiefore  abstain  fium  all  the  works  of 
the  former  and  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  "for  it  shall  be  a 
vexation  only  to  understanding  the  leport,"  when  Jehovah 
arises  to  shake  terribly  the  earth  :  P'lee,  theiefore,  flee  from 
the  wrath  near  at  hand;  be  reconciled  to  the  Lord  God, 
make,  speedily  make  your  peace  with  the  Almighty,  so  that 
shortly,  when  he  coir^es  to  make  up  his  jewels,  ye  may,  with 
all  the  redeemed  of  the  Land,  have  an  entrance  admimster- 
ed  abundantly,  into  his  everlasting  kingdom  of  Glory,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  blessed- Lord  and  Saviour,  there  with  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  all  the  Holy  Angels,  and  redeem- 
ed Saints  and  Marty  is,  unite  in  songs  of  praise  to  our  (ilori- 
ous  Eternal  Father,  to  whom  be  aL  worship,  thanks  and  ad" 
oration,  dominion  and  power,  both  now  and  forever.  Amen* 
Amen. 


DI«>^€OVR8E   XII. 

ON  OBEDIENCE. 

See  that  ye  refuse  not  him  that  speaketL  For  if  they  es- 
caped not  who  refused  him  that  spake  on  earth\  much  wore 
shall  not  ive  escape^  if  we  turn  away  f  om  him  that  speuketh 
from  heaven. 

Whose  voice  then  shook  the  earth-,  but  now  he  hath  promised 
sayings  Yet  once  more  I  shake  not  the  earth  only^  but  also 
heaven,  [Hebrews,  \2th,  chap.  '25th  ^  26th  ver. 

Our  blessed  Father  mercilully  befriended  our  first  parents 
immediately  after  their  sinful  transgression,  although  he  drove 
them  out  of  Paradise,  and  deemed  it  necessary  to  lay  a  curse 
upon  them  and  their  posterity  to  the  end  of  time;  yet  never- 
theless his  Almighty  love  constramed  him  graciously  to  con- 
descend to  acts  of  kindness  and  mercy  for  their  comfort  and 
happiness  here  below,  and  giving  them  laws  which  were 
"good,  and  just  and  holy;"  so  that  by  the  observing  of  them, 
they  might  again  return  to  our  blessed  God,  and  know  him 
as  a  reconciled  Father,  be  fully  reinstated  to  his  H0I3  Im- 
age, to  love  and  enjoy  him  in  the  beauties  of  holiness  and 
worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  by  reverence  and  obedience 
draw  down  the  blessings  of  the  Most  High  upon  themselves 
and  their  offspring,  whom  they  were  commanded  by  the 
Lord  to  instruct  in  the  path  of  wisdom  and  understanding; 
when  they  sat  in  their  houses,  when  they  walked  by  the  way, 
when  they  laid  themselves  down,  and  when  they  arose  up; 
their  mouths  were  to  talk  of  the  love  of  their  Heavenly 
Father,  make  known  to  their  children  his  mandates  and 
train  them  up  to  repeat  the  word  of  the  Lord,  fear,  honor, 
love,  and  reverence  the  Deity,  so  that  prosperity  might  at- 
tend them,  and  they  might  have  peace  in  their  borders,  and 


ON  OBEDIENCE.  141 

their  ij;ates  might  be  praise,  and  at  the  destruction  of  the 
wicked  they  might  take  refuge  in  the  Hock  of  their  salva- 
tion. Thus  Abraham  instructed  his  son  Isaac,  and  Isaac 
taught  Jacob,  and  Jacob  the  twelve  patriarchs,  and  they 
their  offspring,  and  every  good  and  wise  man  his  children, 
so  that  the  rod  of  the  wicked  may  not  come  nigh  them,  when 
the  wrath  of  the  Lord  God  of  Hosts  is  kisidled  to  destroy 
the  seed  of  the  serpent. 

See  that  ye  refuse  not  him  that  speaketh,  Pharoah  the 
proud,  the  haughty  and  uplifted  monarch  of  Egypt,  whose 
grievous  oppressions  of  the  children  of  Israel,  the  dear  peo- 
ple of  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  his  perseverance  therein,  and  lay- 
ing even  heavier  burdens  upon  their  shoulders,  too  heavy  to 
be  borne,  after  Moses  the  n\aM  of  God  reproved  him  for  his 
rebellion  against  bis  maker  and  preserver,  he  disregarded  the 
words  of  Moses,  and  went  on  in  his  hardened  and  stififi»eck- 
ed  course,  sinning  and  drinking  down  iniquity  as  an  ox 
drinks  down  water,  and  thus  became  more  and  more  obnox- 
ious in  the  eyes  of  Jehovah,  who  deemed  it  therefore  neces- 
sary from  time  to  time  to  admonish  him  by  sendmg  Moses 
and  Aaron  to  desire  him  to  let  tlie  children  of  Israel  depart 
out  of  his  country,  to  serve  the  Lord  their  God,  to  sacrifice 
unto  Him  and  worship  and  praise  Him  as  they  were  com- 
manded; but  none  of  the  words  of  Moses  and  Aaron  were 
heeded  by  the  stubborn  Pharoah,  consequently  the  judg- 
ments of  the  Almighty  descended  upon  him  and  his  people, 
and  he  was  dreadfully  tormented,  and  his  people  were  pres- 
sed sore  by  different  plagues,  until  at  length  he  consented  to 
their  departure,  but  soon  followed  them  with  his  hosts,  when 
all  were  overthrown  and  perished  in  the  Red  Sea;  their  poor 
souls  thus  descended  and  found  an  asylum  in  hell;  and  so  it 
was  with  the  Sodomites  who  disregarded  all  the  words  of 
holy  Lot,  and  fire  and  brimstone  was  sent  down  by  the 
Lord  God  out  of  heaven  and  devoured  them,  and  thus  they 
went  to  their  own  home;  and  so  also  many  proud,  cruel, 
wicked  and  filthy  Sovereigns,  nations,  and  peoplesince,among 


142  ON  OBEDIENCE. 

whom  was  the  worse  than  beastly  Nero.  O  Lord  God  Al- 
mighty, deliver  us  speedily  from  such  abominable  creatures. 
And  also  the  Ron>ans,  akin  in  their  infernal  work  to  the 
Sodomites,  and  the  devils  in  hell,  who  were  therefore  their 
brethren,  and  they  shall  likewise  have  one  home,  the  lake  of 
fire  and  brimstone  forever  and  ever,  with  all  others  that  lead 
similar  abominable  lives,  and  disregard  the  warning  voice, 
flee!!  flee  I!!  flee!!'!  from  the  wrath  to  come. 

For  if  they  escaped  not  who  refused  him  that  spake  on  earthy 
much  ii'ore  shall  not  we  escape^  if  we  turn  away  from  him  that 
speakelh  from  heaven,  Jehovaii,  when  he  speaks  let  all  the 
insignificant  nations  of  the  earth  stand  in  awe,  and  if  it  is 
not  in  love,  but  rather  in  wrath  on  account  of  the  departure 
of  the  people  from  him,  the  only  true,  living,  and  everlasting 
God,  let  them  bow,  let  them  fall  down  before  their  Maker. 

"  Before  Jehovah's  awful  throne, 

Ye  nations  bow  with  sacred  awe ; 
Know  that  the  Lord  is  God  alone, 

He  can  create  and  He  destroy." 

Yea,  verily,  when  the  word  of  the  King  Eternal,  Immor- 
tal and  Invisible  is  against  them,  then  let  them  fall  down  and 
howl  on  account  of  their  abominations,  let  them  lay  their 
mouths  in  the  dust,  rend  their  hearts  and  clothe  themselves  in 
sacloih  and  ashes,  and  repent  them  of  all  their  filthy  abom- 
inations and  crime;  let  them  weep,  be  afflicted,  and  distress- 
ed for  their  sins  of  enormous  magnitude;  f^r  their  abomina- 
ble, hell-deserving  iniquity;  let  them  speeddy  follow  the  ex- 
ample of  Ninevah,  and  roll  themselves  in  the  dust  and  be 
sorrowful,  weep,  and  lament  for  their  mis-doings,  for  their 
mad  rebellion  against  the  Most  High.  "  Enter  into  the 
rock,  and  hide  thee  in  the  dust,  for  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  for 
the  glory  of  his  majesty.  The  lofty  looks  of  man  shall  be 
humbled,  and  the  haughtiness  of  men  shall  be  bowed  down, 
and  the  Lord  alone  shall  be  exalted  in  that  day."  The  times 
at  present  indicate  that  the  period  is  near  at  hand,  wdien  Je- 
hovah will  arise  in  his  strength  to  plead  the  cause  of  his  cho- 


ON  OBEDIENCE.  143 

sen— of  his  peculiar  people,  royal  priesthood,  and  Holy  Na 
tion,  which  includes  all  those  who  love  God,  have  a  living 
failh  in  Jej-us,  keep  his  words  and  commandments,  work 
righteousness,  are  the  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  worship 
our  blessed  Father  in  spirit  and  in  the  beauties  of  holiness; 
have  their  delight  in  "whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoev- 
er things  are  just,  whatsoever  things  are  pure,  whatsoever 
things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  thmgs  are  of  good  report  ac- 
cordmg  to  Godhness,  and  which  contribute  to  the  virtue  and 
refinement  of  the  human  family,  to  the  exaUation,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  of  the  souls  of  the  children  of  men;  for  their 
comfort  and  happiness  here  in  time,  and  felicity  and  bliss  in 
heaven  for  ever  and  ever. 

Much  more  shall  not  we  escape^  if  we  turn  away  from  him 
that  spraketh  from,  heaven.  The  Almighty  is  ever  jealous  of 
his  glory,  and  will  never  give  it  to  another.  He  alone  is  the 
Lord  God,  and  besides  him  there  is  none  else;  therefore  v\  hen 
he  thunders  with  his  voice,  let  all  the  people  quake,  let  them 
tremble  and  fear  to  do  evil;  let  them  stand  aloof  and  sin  not, 
let  their  idle  talk  be  turned  into  seriousness;  let  their  merri- 
ment and  mad  rejoicing  be  turned  into  sorrow  and  mourn- 
ing; for  when  the  whole  earth  commit  all  manner  of  ini- 
quity, abomination,  and  crime,  and  glory  in  their  shame, 
then  the  Lord  God  will  make  it  barren,  "For  thus  saith  the 
Lord  God;  When  the  whole  earth  rejoiceth,  I  will  make  tiiee 
desolate." 

Be  ye  not  deceived,  for  our  blessed  God  is  not  mocked  in 
these  times  of  degenerateness,  of  tramplii  g  under  fool  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  of  leagueing  with  the  devil  against 
the  kiwgdom  of  heaven,  against  the  JVJost  High  God,  for 
verily,  indue  time  the  Lord  God  will  "ease  himself  of  his 
adversaries,  and  avenge  himself  of  his  enemies."  It  is  self- 
evident  thai  Jehovah  has  a  controversy  with  all  the  nations 
of  the  earth,  that  his  wrath  is  kindled  and  ready  to  consume 
to  the  uttermost,  to  tread  them  down  as  the  mire  of  the 
streets;  "for  it  is  in  his  heart  to  destroy,  and  cut  off  nations 


144  ON  OBEDIENCE. 

not  a  few;"  "  How  can  ye  escape  if  ye  neglect  so  great 
salvation."  "If  the  righteous  scarcely  are  saved,  where  will 
the  ungodly  and  the  sinners  appear?"  but  in  the  flames  of 
hell,  in  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone  prepared  for  all 
devils  from  the  founation  of  the  world. 

I\!uch  more  shall  not  we  escape  if  we  turn  away  from  him 
that  speaketh  from  hravea,  "Wo  to  the  rebellious  children, 
saith  the  Lord,  that  take  counsel,  but  not  of  me;  and  that 
cover  with  a  covering,  but  not  of  my  Spirit,  that  they  may 
add  sin  to  sin.  Now  go,  write  it  before  them  in  a  table,  and 
note  it  in  a  book,  that  it  may  be  for  the  time  to  come  for  ev- 
er and  ever,  that  this  is  a  rebellious  people;  lying  children, 
that  will  not  hear  the  law  of  the  Lord;  which  say  to  their 
seers.  See  not;  and  to  the  propheis;  Prophecy  not  unto  us 
right  things,  speak  unto  us  smooth  things,  prophecy  deceits; 
get  you  out  of  the  way,  turn  aside  out  of  the  path,  cause  the 
Holy  One  of  l-rael  to  cease  from  before  us."  [Is.iiah,  30th 
chap.]  O  the  dreadftd  darkness  of  soul  when  there  is  a 
general  aversion  to  the  blessed  God,  to  his  words,  to  his 
great  salvation;  when  "darkness  covers  the  earth,  and  gross 
darkness  the  people,"  as  it  seems  to  be  the  case  at  present 
all  the  earth  abroad;  awfijl  and  disgraceful  to  humanity  as 
such  rebellions  to  the  Almighty  are,  the  fact  of  a  general 
degradedness  and  depravity  pervading  at  times  all  classes, 
high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  free  and  bond,  is  well  establish- 
ed, and  however  painful  the  thought  may  be  to  the  truly  re- 
fined, good,  and  virtuous,  it  is  nevertheless  true,  for  at  the 
time  of  the  flood  there  were  but  eight  persons  after  our  be- 
loved Heavenly  Father's  heart,  righteous  Noah  and  family, 
and  the  waters  deluged  the  w  hole  earth  and  destroyed  all 
the  wicked,  together  with  all  fiving  things,  save  those  that 
were  m  the  ark  with  the  venerable  Patriarch;  and  so  with 
Sodom  and  Gonorrah,  and  ihe  surromiding  plains,  upon 
which  the  Lord  God  shook  down  fire  and  brimstone,  delu- 
ged the  country  over,  and  destroyed  the  worse  than  beastly 
people  from  out  of  his  sight,  from  ofT  the  face  of  the  earth, 


ON  OBEDIENCE.  145 

except  holy  Lot  and  family,  whom  God  found  just  and  holy, 
averse  to  the  abominable  lewdness  of  their  filthy  neighbors. 
Since  then  the  nations  of  Canaan,  the  tribe  of  Benjamin, 
besides  many  other  nations,  kindreds,  and  people,  for  their 
departure  from  HIM  who  spcaketh  from  Heaven,  JEHO- 
VAH, for  having  put  away  the  fear  of  him  from  before  their 
eyes,  and  set  up  the  stumbling  block  of  iniquity  in  their 
hearts,  so  that  their  foolish  hearts  became  darkened,  their 
souls  benighted,  and  their  spirits  degraded  to  a  level,  if  not 
beneath  the  four-footed  animals,  so  that  they  could  delight 
themselves  in  the  works  of  darkness  and  damnation,  revel 
with  devils  in  all  manner  of  abominations,  working  with 
familiar  spirits,  the  works  pertaining  to  death,  "the  death 
that  never,  never  dies."  And  where  are  they  now?  but  m 
yonder  gulph  of  despair,  where  foul  demons  have  their  habi- 
tation; where  the  worm  dieth  not  and  where  the  fire  is  never 
quenched. 

fVhose  voice  then  shook  the  earth*  Jehovah  the  Eternal 
God,  when  he  thunders  with  his  Almighty  voice,  causes  the 
earth  to  tremble  and  shake  to  the  centre,  and  the  people, 
poor,  puny  creatures,  to  be  dreadfully  dismayed  and  fright- 
ened, so  that  they  would  flee  and  hide  themseb'es  in  dens 
and  the  caverns  of  rock,  from  his  presence,  from  the  sound  of 
his  voice;  for  who  can  stand  before  the  Omnipotent  God  of 
Hosts,  when  his  wrath  is  fully  kindled  and  he  arises  to  plead 
his  own  cause,  "to  shake  terribly  the  earth."  At  the  giving 
of  the  Ten  Commandments  to  Moses  on  Mount  Sinai,  Jeho- 
vah descended  in  awlul  majesty,  amid  thunders  and  light- 
nings, and  the  mighty  soundings  of  a  trumpet;  so  that  the 
Mount  quaked;  the  people  trembled  greatly,  even  Moses — 
the  man  of  God  himself  said,  "1  exceedingly  fear  and 
quake."  Then  and  thus  the  Lord  God  spake  from  heaven 
to  the  children  of  Israel,  his  chosen  people,  who  were  dear 
to  him  as  the  apple  to  the  eye,  and  to  whom  he  manifested 
his  love  in  innumerable  instances,  and  to  a  degree  above  all 
other  nations  of  the  earth;  his   presence  encamped  about 

12 


146  ON  OBEDIENCE. 

them  as  the  God  of  Battles,  he  fought  for  them,  and  slew 
their  enemies,  the  first-born  of  Egypt,  and  then  the  remain- 
ing hosts  with  Pharoah  as  in  his  glory,  at  their  head,  whom 
he  overthrew  in  the  red  sea,  so  that  on  the  side  of  the  Egyp- 
tians none  was  left  to  tell  it:  no  wonder  therefore  after 
having  seen  this  dreadful  destruction  of  the  Egyptians,  that 
the  children  of  Israel,  and  even  Moses  himself,  feared  great- 
ly, for  they  had  previously  rebelled  and  murmured  about 
the  water,  and  also  hankered  after  the  flesh  pots  of  Egypt; 
even  wished  that  they  had  died  there  when  they  had  fulness 
of  bread;  the  Almighty  God,  in  love  for  their  temporal  and 
eternal  welfare — but  in  severe  majesty,  descended  from 
heaven  to  commune  with  them,  to  furnish  them  with  right, 
just,  and  good  laws,  to  contribute  to  their  comfort  and  hap- 
piness, exaltation  and  holiness,  to  their  entire  sanctification, 
so  that  they  might  be  always  reconciled  to  their  Father, 
walk  in  the  light  of  his  countenance,  and  by  loving  him  with 
all  the  heart,  partake  of  the  joys  of  the  Angels  of  Heaven; 
for  this  purpose  therefore,  the  Ten  Commandments  were 
written  by  the  finger  of  the  blessed  God  himself  during  this 
awful  solemnity,  which  continued  for  forty  days  and  nights, 
while  a  vast  cloud  surrounded  the  mountain.  Moses  was 
with  Jehovah  within,  by  whom  he  was  miraculously  sus- 
tamed  the  whole  period  without  food,  and  received  the  com- 
mandments from  the  Altpighty,  for  the  refinement  of  the 
people  withal,  and  which  are  still  valid  and  not  to  be  viola- 
ted with  impunity,  although  we  are  under  the  new  cove- 
nant of  grace,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  dear  Saviour  and 
•^lediator,  at  whose  atonement  on  Mount  Calvary,  Jehovah 
shook  the  earth  again;  brought  darkness  upon  it;  rent  the 
rocks,  and  the  temple  veil  from  top  to  bottom,  opened  the 
graves  and  caused  the  dead  bodies  of  Saints  to  appear  to 
many  of  the  living.  God  thus  testified  thai  Jesus  was  the 
true  Messiah,  the  Saviour  of  sinners,  and  also  that  there  is 
a  resurrection  of  the  dead,  to  take  place  according  to  our 
blessed  Saviour's  words,    "  1  am  the  resurrection  and  th 


ON  OBEDIENCE.  147 

life,  he  that  believeth  in  me  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall 
he  live,  and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall  nev- 
er die;"  shall,  as  St.  Paul  has  it  "fall  sweetly  asleep  in  Je- 
sus," and  have  part  in  the  first  resurrection.  "Blessed  and 
holy  is  he  thai  hath  part  in  the  first  resuirection;  on  such  the 
secorjd  death  hath  no  power,  but  they  shall  be  priests  of  God 
and  of  Christ,  and  shall  reign  with  him  a  thousand  years." 

The  promise  of  a  part  in  the  first  resurrection  of  life  and 
happiness,  is  to  all  true  christians,  the  chosen  of  the  Lord, 
w  ho  love  and  obey  him,  serve  him  in  righteousness  and  holi- 
ness, walk  unblamably  with  God,  onr  Heavenly  Father,  as 
Enoch  also  did  with  the  Patriarchs,  Prophets,  and  Apostles 
and  Saints  and  Martys  of  Jesus,  who  for  the  joy  that  was 
set  before  them,  endured  the  cross,  despised  the  shame,  and 
are  now  seated  in  high  heaven's  eternal  glory,  in  the  efful- 
gence of  the  Deity,  singing  with  the  holy  hosts  of  Cheru- 
bims  and  Seraphims,  Angels  and  Arch- Angels,  the  high 
praises  of  our  blessed  God  and  Saviour;  Hallelujah!  Halle- 
lujah!! the  Lord  God  Omnipotent  reigneth,  the  King  of 
Saints.  Therefore  my  brethren  in  Christ,  as  they  only  who 
endure  unto  the  end  shall  be  saved,  let  me,  in  love  to  your 
souls,  admonish  you  to  watch  against  the  subtlety  of  Satan, 
to  watch  and  to  pray,  to  pray  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  as  only 
such  are  heard  by  the  hearer  and  answerer  of  prayer,  our 
heavenly  P'ather,  so  that  like  unto  holy  David's,  our  love 
may  increase  and  be  perfect.  "  I  love  the  Lord  because  he 
hath  heard  my  voice  and  my  supplications;  because  he  hath 
inclined  his  ear  unto  me,  therefore  will  1  call  upon  him  as 
long  as  I  live."  May  our  resolutions  be  similar,  so  that  we 
may  be  mindful  of  the  things  pertaining  lo  our  peace,  and 
"press  continually  toward  the  mark  of  the  prize  of  our  high 
calling  in  Christ  Jesus,"  so  that  "no  man  take  our  crown  ;' 
and  our  souls  be  continually  as  watered  gardens,  the  name 
of  the  Lord  our  God  glorified,  and  through  our  blessed  Sa- 
viour, Christ,  w^e  may  be  able  to  stand  when  "  he  shakes  ter- 
ribly the  earth,"  and  as  the  blessed  of  his  Father,  have  an 


us  ON  OBEDIENCE. 

entrance  administered  unto  iis,  abundantly  into  his  everlas- 
ting kingdom  of  glory,  to  sing  with  the  celestial  throng  tl^ 
high  praises  of  our  Holy  Father  lorever  and  ever. 

Bvf  now  he  hath  piomised,  saying,  Yet  once  more  I  shake  not 

the  earth  only,  but  aho  heaven. 

The  promises  of  Jehovah  are  all  Yea  and  Amen,  that  is 
they  shall  be  positively  fulfilled;  "I  have  spoken  and  shall  I 
not  do  it?  and  he  that  hath  my  word,  let  him  speak  my  word 
faithfully  :  what  is  the  chaff  to  ihe  wheat?  saith  the  I  .ord.  — 
Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire?  saith  the  Lord;  and  like  a 
hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces?'*  O  that  it  would 
break  the  stony  hearts  of  this  people,  and  influence  the  in- 
habitants of  this  tottering  world  to  repent,  and  look  at  the 
things  conung  upon  tlie  earth;  'Hhey  can  discern  the  face  of 
the  sky,  but  why  can  they  not  discern  the  signs  of  the  times?" 
O  that  they  would  exeicise  their  superior  faculties  to  scruti- 
nize the  appearances  of  the  times  and  regulate  their  lives 
accordingly.  "  Fear,  and  the  pit,  and  the  snare,  are  upon 
theCs  O  inhabitant  of  the  earth,  And  it  shall  come  to  pass^ 
that  he  who  fleelh  from  the  noise  of  the  fear  sh:\ll  fall  into 
the  pit;  and  he  that  comcth  up  out  of  the  midst  of  the  pit, 
shall  be  taken  in  the  snare;  for  the  windows  from  on  high  are 
open,  and  the  lonndat'tons  of  the  earth  do  shake."  O  earth  I 
eartSi!!  earth!",  hear  the  words  of  the  Lord,  O  you  people 
flee,  fiee  from  the  wrath  to  come;  be  reconciled  to  the  Most 
Hi^h  God,  for  he  is  coming,  he  is  coming  to  judge  the  earth, 
to  judge  theeaith  in  righteousness  and  the  people  in  equity. 
Prej)are  you  all,  prepare  to  meet  your  God,  through  Jesus 
Christ  ne  may  yet  be  found  by  you  in  the  eleventh  hour;  he 
may  }et  be  willing  to  receive  you  as  prodigals;  after  having 
bec!  (eedmg  (;n  the  husks  and  wallowing  as  swine  in  the  mire 
of  siii  and  iniquity,  the  blessed  God  may  be  yet  willing  to  be 
your  Kather,  to  adopt  you  into  his  family  of  Kings  and 
Frit  sis,  and  feed  you  with  the  bread  of  life;  for  the  biood  of 
Jesjs  Christ  cleanses  from  all  sins,  and  through  faith  in  him 


ON  OBEDIENCE.  149 

^nd  love  to  God  the  true  christians  overcome  the  world,  the 
flesh  and  the  devil,  and  beconie  the  temples  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  consequently  enabled  to  live  sober,  righteous, 
and  holy  lives,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  our  Eternal  Kather, 
and  our  immortal  souPs  pprfection  in  holiness,  and  final  re- 
ception into  the  mansions  of  the  blessed,  to  enjoy  the  bliss  of 
heaven  forevermore. 
Yet  once  more  1  shake  not  the  earth  only^  hut  also  heaven. 

The  peri  )d  is  near  at  hand  when  Jehovah  will  destroy  the 
whole  Universe,  which  \\\  created  in  the  short  spa(ie  of  six 
days,  he  can  therefore  destroy  it  in  much  less  time;  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye  our  blessed  God  will  consume  the  earth 
with  fire,  with  all  its  filthy  inhabitants. 

"And  1  beheld  when  he  had  opened  the  sixth  seal,  and  lo! 
there  was  a  great  earthquake,  and  the  Sun  became  bla<-k:  as 
Sackcloth  of  hair,  and  the  moon  became  as  blood;  and  the 
stars  of  heaven  fell  unto  the  earth,  even  as  a  fig  tree  casteth 
her  untimely  figs  when  she  is  shaken  by  a  mighty  wind.— 
And  the  heaven  departed  as  a  scroll  when  it  is  rilled  togeth- 
er; and  every  mountain  and  island  were  moved  out  of  their 
places."  Then  shall  there  be  distress,  lamentation  and  woe 
to  the  extent  that  never  has  been  known  before;  then  the 
Kings,  Chief-Captains,  and  the  mighty  men,  and  every  bond- 
man and  every  free-man  shall  be  dismayed  and  terrified,  and 
fly  to  hide  themselves  in  dens  and  in  the  rocks  of  the  moun- 
tains. "And  say  to  the  mountains  and  rocks.  Fall  on  us 
and  hide  us  from  the  face  of  him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne, 
and  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb:  For  the  great  day  of  his 
wrath  is  come;  and  who  shall  be  able  to  stand?" 

Immediately  after  the  tribulation  of  those  days  shall  the 
Sun  be  darkened,  and  the  moon  shall  not  give  her  light,  and 
the  stars  shall  fall  from  heave  i,  and  the  p  wej  s  of  the  heav- 
ens shall  be  shake-i;  and  then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the 
Son  of  man  m  heaven;  and  then  shall  all  the  tribes  of  the 
ear  h  mourn,  and  they  shall  se-3  the  on  of  man  coming  in 
the  clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and  great  glory.     And  he 


150  ON  OBEDIENCE. 

shall  send  his  Angels  with  a  great  sound  of  a  trmnpet,  and 
they  shall  gather  together  his  t'lect  from  the  four  winds,  from 
one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other."  And  then  also  shall  the 
King  say  to  us,  Come  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the 
prepared  kingdom  and  be  crowned  with  gloty  forever;  but  to 
the  wicked  and  all  devils,  he  shall  say.  Depart  from  me  for 
1  never  knew  you,  ye  workers  of  iniquity,  and  will  cast  them 
into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,  prepared  for  the  devil 
and  his  angels  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  where  there 
is  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth  forever  and  ever.  Then 
the  glorious  God  will  immediately  create  a  New  Heaven  and 
a  JXew  Earth,  which  shall  abide  forevermore,  where  all  right- 
eousness, holiness  and  glory  shall  abound,  wherein  the  glo- 
rious Chevubims  and  Seraphims,  Angels  and  Arch-angels^ 
with  all  the  redeemed  of  the  Ljamb,  shall  minister  unto  Je- 
hovah, and  we  shall  worship  in  the  Beauties  of  Holiness,^ 
our  glorious,  holy  Father,  and  adoringly  sing  his  praise  for- 
ever and  ever.     Amen  and  Amen. 

J\"ote. — The  three  preceedmg  Discourses  are  not  printed  in  the 
table  of  contents,  having  been  written  since.  The  reader  will  oc- 
casionally discover  typographical  errors  throughout  the  work,  u 


bi8€Ovri§e:  xeii, 

on  the  first  resurrection. 

On  the  first  resurrection  and  thonsand  years  reign  of  Christ 
with  his  Saints  on  earth.  [Rev,  I9th  4*  20//i  Chaps. 

John,  the  amiable  and  the  beloved  of  the  Lord ;  the 
holy,  and  the  Divine;  the  Angelic  Evangelist ;  O  how  nna- 
ture  in  holy  tempers  was  this  devoted  disciple ;  how  perfect 
did  the  love  of  God  shine  in  his  heart  and  soul,  and  was  by 
him  reflected  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  his  Divine  Master,  as 
manifested  in  his  gospel  and  his  epistles  :  and  this  last  reve- 
lation and  conclusion  of  the  Divine  dispensation  to  mankind, 
of  FTim  who  was,  and  is,  and  is  to  come,  the  Almighty.  How 
highly  was  he  also  honored  in  this  work  of  the  Lord,  who 
appeared  with  Mystic  figures  unto  him,  and  spake  as  it  were 
personally  with  him,  explaining  the  meaning  of  the  same — ► 
then  again  he  spake  to  them  out  of  heaven,  inviting  him  to 
come  up,  and  immediately  he  was  wafted  in  the  spirit  into 
these  resplendant  regions  of  glorv,  and  beheld  the  beauties 
of  heaven  and  Him  who  sitieth  on  the  Throne.  Thus  he 
was  alternately  in  heaven  and  on  the  earth,  to  accomplish 
this  wonderful  and  sublime  work,  which  excites  our  admira- 
tion and  influences  our  hopes  and  fears,  according  to  our 
state  and  relation  with  the  Deity,  O  the  blessed  views  he 
had  of  the  glorious  New  Jerusalem,  and  the  shining  liosts 
surrounding  the  Most  High  in  glory,  and  their  happiness  and 
bliss ;  \\  ith  some  of  whom  he  had  frequent  intercourse  and 
conversation  to  accomplish  this  work,  and  never  was  any  one 
of  earthly  mould  more  worthy  of  the  appellation  of  brother 
from  these  Angelic  holy  Beings  ;  with  whom  he  is  now,  in 
this  Paradise  of  God,  in  closer  communion  ;  and  shall  be  so 
forever  and  ever.     And  so  shall  likewise  all  who  follow  him 


152  ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION. 

as  he  followed  Christ ;  walked  with  God  as  he  did  ;  as  we 
shall  see  as  we  proceed  in  this  subject. 

John  informs  us  of  the  great  Jubilee  there  was  in  heaven, 
of  the  singing  and  rejoicing  of  Saints  and  Angels,  saying 
"  Alleluia  ;  Salvation,  and  glory,  and  honor,  and  power,  unto 
the  Lord  our  God  :"  For  true  and  righteous  are  his  judge- 
ments ;  for  he  hath  judged  the  great  whore,  which  did  cor- 
rupt the  earth  with  her  fornication,  and  hath  avenged  the 
blood  of  his  servants  at  his  hand."  "  And  again  they  said 
Alleluia.  And  her  smoke  rose  up  forever  and  ever."  This 
was  the  overflow  of  joy  of  the  souls  which  had  been  under 
the  Altar — the  martyrs  of  Jesus — and  their  brethren,  the 
holy  Angels,  in  anticipation  of  the  destruction  of  their  ene- 
mies, who  persecuted  them  and  shed  their  innocent  blood ; 
and  also  many  of  their  brethren  after  them,  up  to  this  time 
of  retribution,  as  stated  in  chapter  six*  were  pleading  their 
cause  before  the  Judge,  vsaying,  "  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy 
and  true,  dost  thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blood  on  them 
that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?"  "  And  white  robes  were  given 
unto  every  one  of  them;  and  it  was  said  unto  them,  that  they 
should  rest  yet  for  a  little  season,  until  their  fellow-servants 
also,  and  their  brethren,  that  should  be  killed  as  they  were, 
should  be  fulfilled. "  This  period  had  now  arrived,  and  a 
voice  was  heard  coming  out  of  the  throne  saying,  "  Praise 
our  God,  all  ye  his  servants,  and  ye  thai  fear  him,  both  small 
and  great,"  and  the  voice  of  multitudes,  and  the  voice  of 
many  waters,  and  the  voice  of  mighty  thunderings  were  heard 
by  our  blessed  brother  John,  saying, '^Alleluia;  for  the  Lord 
God  Omnipotent  reigneth."  As  the  Holy  Lord  enjoined  on 
his  followers  and  dear  people,  his  Saints,  not  to  return  evil 
for  evil,  but  contrary  wise,  blessings,  and  has  also  said  that 
vengeance  belonged  to  Him  and  that  he  would  repay — we 
are  constrained  in  this,  als-o,  to  obey;  and  indeed  if  we  even 
thought  otherwise,  and  our  zeal  would  hurry  us — with  Ptter 
— to  smite  our  enimies  and  cut  off  some  ears,  we  should 
make  but  little  progress — with  an  arm  of  flesh — as  there  are 


ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION.  153 

always  millions  against  us,  particularly  now,  many  millions 
against  one  true  follower  of  the  Lamb,  who  will  strive  law- 
fully unto  blood,  persevere  llirough  fire  and  water,  to  get  into 
the  wealtliy  Holy  Place,  where  we  shall  shortly,  with  the 
holy  throng  assembled — lift  up  our  voice  and  say,  "  Let  us 
be  glad  a5)d  rejoice,  and  give  honor  to  Him;  for  the  marriage 
of  the  Lamb  is  come,  and  his  wife  hath  made  herself  ready,' 
and  with  them  be  arrayed  in  fine  linen,  clean  and  white  ' 
which  is  the  righteousness  of  saints."  Thus  shall  we  be 
blessed  with  all  that  are  called  unto  the  marriage  supper 
of  the  Lamb. 

"And  I  saw  heaven  open,  and  beheld  a  white  horse  ;  and 
he  that  sat  upon  him  called  Faithful  and  True,  and  in  right- 
eousness he  doth  judge  and  make  war."  He  comes  forth 
in  dreadful  array;  in  the  majesty  of  the  Almighty;  with 
eyes  as  flames  of  fire,  and  ma  y  crow  is  on  his  head  ; 
clothed  with  a  vesture  dipped  in  blood  ;  and  his  nam:*,  is 
called  "  the  Word  of  God;"  followed  by  the  whole  hosts 
of  heaven  on  white  horses,  clothed  in  fine  Imen,  white  and 
clean.  And  he  will  smite  all  nations  with  the  word  of  his 
mouth,  and  rule  them  with  a  rod  of  iron ;  and  he  treads  the 
winepress  of  the  fierceness  and  wrath  of  Almighty  God. 
And  he  hath  on  his  vesture  and  on  his  thigh  a  name  written, 
"  KING  OF  KLNGS,  AND  LORD  OF  LORDS." 

Let  the  earth  stand  amazed  and  in  awe,  and  ponder  the 
things  which  must  shortly  come  upon  her;  when  the  wicked 
shall  be  overthrown  with  an  everlasting  destruction  and  all 
the  fowls  be  filled  with  their^flesh.  "  1  saw  an  Angel  stand- 
ing in  the  sun  ;  and  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying  to  all 
the  fowls  that  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  come  and  gather 
yourselves  together  unto  the  supper  of  the  great  God;  "That 
ye  may  eat  the  flesh  of  kings,  and  the  flesh  of  captains,  and 
the  flesh  of  mighty  men,  and  the  flesh  of  horses,  and  of  them 
that  sit  on  them,  and  the  flesh  of  all  men,  both  free  and  bond, 
both  small  and  great." 

There  will  be,  therefore,  such  a  slaughter  on  the  ea  th 


154  ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION. 

that  \  as  never  approached  before;  as  she  drank  the  blood 
of  tlii  baints  of  the  Most  Hi^h,  so  shall  she  drink  in  that  of 
their  jnseculors  and  murderers,  upon  whom  'vill,  mosi  like- 
ly, be  found  all  the  blood  from  rigliteous  Abel  to  Za(  hariah, 
and  fiOin  him  to  the  laiest  saint ;  even  to  this  destruction. 
This  cleansing  of  the  earth  will  be  the  evening  preceeding 
the  daw  n  of  the  glorious  Sabbath  which  the  saints  shall  en- 
joy with  their  L.ord  on  the  earth;  when  the  kid,  the  bear, 
and  ox  shall  feed  together,  and  the  lion  lie  down  with  the 
lamb,  and  a  little  child  shall  lead  them  ;  when  there  will  be 
no  more  v\  ar  or  fightings  on  the  earth  during  this  blessed 
time.  But  the  Prince  of  Peace  will  be  Sovereign  Ruler, 
and  all  will  acknowledge  his  sway;  love,  reverence,  and 
hono'*  and  adore  him. 

By  all  appearances  the  time  is  not  far  hence,  when  these 
things  will  be  accomplished.  Some  persons  have  placed  it 
even  in  this  year,  others  the  next;  and  again  others  the  fol- 
lowing, and  several  as  far  out  as  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty, 
when  the  millenial  year  is  to  commence,  and  all  profess  to 
have  examined  the  prophesies  and  calculated  accordingly, 
and  concluded  as  stated  ;  others  again  say,  "  as  soon  as  you 
please  you  may  have  it" — addressing,  1  presume,  all  who  are 
desirous  that  this  glorious  era  should  commence — that  is, 
they  say  "convert  all  the  heathens  and  you  have  it,"  Affec- 
ting ignorance  and  bhndness  to  the  dreadful  course  of  wick- 
edness, and  all  things  considered,  worse  than  heathen  iniqui- 
ty, in  which  nearly  all  revel  that  have  the  name  of  christians. 
As  it  was  in  the  beginning  of  Wesley's  career,  so  it  is 
now,  or  if  anything  worsa  ;  who  in  writing  that   very  likely 

Mr. (a  person  who  said  he  believed  he  had  never  seen 

one,)  would  never  see  a  true  christian — intimating  that  they 
were  very  scarce  and  far  between — to  use  a  familiar  phrase; 
and  so  it  is  at  present,  the  plural  will  scarcely  apply  to  the 
true  church  of  Christ  on  earth.  However,  I  have  or  will 
affect  more  charity — and  indulge  the  hope  that  there  are  sev- 
en thousand  belonging  to  it,  as  at  the  time  of  Elijah.    Then 


ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION.  155 

according  to  the  reasoning  of  this  last  class — these  uncon- 
vertr'd  christians  must  likewise  become  converted,  which 
will  b(^  an  hercnlian  ta^k,  before  we  have  the  glorious  dawn 
of  the  millenial — lor  it  would  be  otherwise  impossible  that 
the  lion  could  lie  down  with  the  lamb,  and  persecution  cease, 
and  love  and  peace  pervade  all — unite  them  in  holiness — 
from  sea  to  sea  and  from  the  rivers  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
.No!  this  is  not  the  way  it  is  to  be  accomplished,  lor  as  long 
as  Satan  remains  loose  he  will  have  his  followers,  and  there 
will  be  division,  contention,  strife  and  persecution.  But  how, 
is  he  not  to  be  chained  ?  He  is,  as  1  shall  show  you  pres- 
ently. 

This  Hiissionary  work  and  preaching  the  word  of  life  to  the 
heathen,  is  all,  according  to  prophecy,  to  the  design  of  Jeho- 
vah, and  praiseworthy  to  all  who  contribute  to  enlighten  the 
heathen,  and  effect  their  salvation;  and  a  great  reward  to  all 
those  who  walked  with  God  blameless,  and  thus  hon- 
ored him,  and  glorified  his  name,  with  their  substance  and 
talents  and  souls,  which  arc  all  his ;  and  those  who  had 
some  worldly  or  other  object  in  view,  shall  also  be  recom- 
pensed accordingly.  Doubtless  many  souls  have  been  con- 
verted, and  have  already  entered  into  the  joy  of  our  Lord 
to  rejoice  with  the  redeemed  forever,  and  have  thus  escaped 
the  terrible  times  coming  on,  when  all  the  seed  of  the  ser- 
pent shall  be  entirely  destroyed  over  the  whole  earth,  by  Him 
on  the  White  Horse,  followed  by  a  flaming  host.  Whether 
this  is  only  figurative,  and  the  Lord  will  destroy  the  wicked 
by  sword,  pestilence  and  famine,  or  whether  it  will  be  effect- 
ed something  like  the  Angel  passing  at  midnight  over  the 
land  of  Egypt,  and  destroying  as  many  as  the  Lord  com- 
missioned or  empowered  him,  "even  all  the  first  born  of  man 
and  beast,  belonging  to  the  wicked  Egyptians,  1  say  whether 
this  way  or  that — he  can  do  it  many  ways — it  matters  not  to 
the  culprits  which  are  to  be  destroyed  for  their  crime  of 
serving  Satan  rather  than  God,  and  the  heathens  will  also  be 
Llameable,  because  they  had  the  words  of  life  preached 


156  ON  THK  FIRST  RESURRECTION. 

unto  them,  which  will  testify  against  them;  "the  harvest  will 
be  over,  the  summer  ended,  and  they  hkewise  will  not 
have  been  saved."  But  the  Lord  has  redeemed  his  promise 
that  the  word  of  life  should  be  preached  to  all  nations,  -^for 
a  testimony  against  them,"  that  is,  against  all  that  will  not 
hear  to  the  saving  of  their  souls,  by  embracing  the  offers  of 
salvation  thus  made  known  unto  them,  but  adhere  to  their 
idolatry,  iniquity  and  abomination,  they  shall  then  likewise 
perish  in  their  sins  without  further  remedy. 

As  at  the  time  of  Noah  and  at  the  time  of  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah,  so  siiall  it  be  at  our  blessed  Lord's  second  advent. 
Is  there  not  t;ovv  stampt  on  the  face  of  the  times  forebodings 
of  a  similar  era  of  wickedness  and  abomination,  and  an 
utter  contempt  of  the  blessed  God?  Has  not  the  love  of 
many  waxed  cold,  and  has  there  not  been  a  great  falling  off? 
Certainly,  every  body  knows  it,  and  few  are  afflicted  on  ac- 
count thereof,  and  therefore  these  are  the  very  symptoms  of 
the  approaching  crisis,  when  Beelzebub  with  his  followers 
shall  have  their  last  struggle  on  the  earth — until  after  the 
thousand  years — and  they  will  not  be  able  to  fight  with 
success  the  royal  cavalry  from  the  celestial  regions,  under 
the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the  King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords. 
Let  us  consider  the  issues  of  the  battle  a  little  further.  St. 
John  says,  "And  I  saw  the  beast  and  the  kings  of  the  earth 
a  Id  their  armies,  gathered  together  to  make  war  against  him 
that  sat  on  the  horse,  and  against  his  army.  "And  the  beast 
\  as  taken,  and  with  him  the  false  prophet  that  wrought 
miracles  before  him,  with  which  he  deceived  them  that  had 
received  the  mark  of  the  beast,  and  them  that  worshipped 
his  in  age.  They  both  were  cast  alive  into  a  lake  of  fire 
burning  with  brimstone;  and  the  remnant  were  slain  with 
the  sword  of  him  that  sat  upon  the  horse,  which  sword  pro- 
c  e  ded  out  of  his  mouth;  and  all  the  fowls  were  filled  with 
their  flesh.*" 

Such  a  general  devastation  and  utter  destruction  of  all 
the  wicked  upon  the  earth  has  never  been  known  before, 


ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION.  1 57 

save  at  the  time  of  Noah;  but  that  is  not  to  be  compared  to 
the  terribleness  of  the  result  of  this  epoch.    Therefore  let  me 
for  warn  you,  each  and  all,  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come; 
flee  to  the  outstretched  arms  of  mercy;  make  your  peace 
with  Uod;  through  a  crucified  Saviour  be  reconciled  to  him; 
be  restored  to  his  favor  and  holy  image,  that  ye  may  be  found 
in  holiness,  and  be  hid  under  his  wings,  and  thus  escape  the 
doom  of  the  wicked;  for  surely  the  rod  of  the  wicked  shall 
not  come  unto  the  righteous  as  long  as  ihey  walk  faithful  in 
hohness  with  God.     No!  verily,   now  is  the  time  our  heads 
will  be  elevated  in  gettmg  this  Sabbath  and  Jubilee  for  a 
thousand  years;  the  mom  of  which  js  near  at  hand.     1  con- 
sider the  six  thousand  years  since  the  begummg  of  the  world 
nearly  expired,  and  that  ihe  seveiith  uill  be  this  Sabbath — 
accordmg  to  the  Jev\ish  dispensation — duiing  which  Christ 
widi  his  Saints  will  reign  on  die  eanh.     Then^fore,  (or  the 
etetnal  welfare  of  your  souls  and  bodies,  be  persuatled  to 
make  your  peace  with  this  l^ince  of  Peace,  ere  he  comes, 
and  yoti  wdl  find  him  in  war  as  an  araiy  with  banners;  terri. 
ble  as  an  earthquake  with  thunder  and  hghtning;  wlvn  none 
of  you  shall  escape  his  vengeanct^  even  your  father  the  devil, 
the  prmce  of  darkness,  shall  be  captured,  with  all  his  legions 
of  dark  spirits,  and  be  cast  into  hell;  as  we  read  from  the 
same  authority.     "And   I  saw  an  angel  come  down  from 
heaven,  having  the  k*^y  of  the  bottomless  pit  and  a   preat 
chain  in  his  hand;  and  he  laid  hold   on  the  dragon,  that  old 
serpent,  which  is  the   Devil,  and  Satan,  and   bound   him  a 
thousand  years,  and  cast  him  into  the    boitondess  pit,   and 
shut  him  up,  and  set  a  seal  upon  him,  that  he  should  deceive 
the  nations  no  more,  till  the  thousand  yeais  should  be  fulfill- 
ed; and  after  that  he  must  be  loosed  a  little  season." 

As  1  said  before    as  long  as  ."^atan  is  loose  ihere  will  be 
iniquity  on  the  eatth,  and  his  followers,  they  that  love  dark- 
ness  rather  than  light,  because  their  deeds  are  evd,   and 
therefore  rather  serve  hnn  than  God,  wdl  always  outnuml)er 
the  true  christians — the  sons  of  light  and  followers  of  the 


158  ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION. 

Prince  of  Peace,  until  this  general  defeat  takes  place,  and 
he,  the  source  of  all  evil,  will  be  shut  up.  What  foolishness! 
yea  vvtiat  madness,  to  serve  such  a  master,  openly  or  secretly 
— seeing  he  cannot  save  himself — much  less  those  thai  trust 
in  hiu),  serve  hmi,  and  dc^lighl  in  his  filthiness.  jNol  they 
shall  be  destroyed  first  on  this  day,  and  then  the  air  shall  be 
purged  of  all  devils,  which  siiall  be  cast  into  hell  for  a  iliou- 
sand  years;  where  there  is  hunger  and  thirst,  weeping,  wail- 
ing, and  gnashing  of  teeth  foiever,  and  where  tiie  worm  dieth 
not  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched. 

Now  the  earth  bemg  cleansed  from  all  fillhiness  and  de- 
vils, the  glorious  Jubilee  and  Sabbath  of  a  thousand  years  will 
commence,  when  the  Saints  and  all  the  Redeemed  of  the 
jVJost  tJigli  will  reign  Kings  and  Priests,  with  our  Liessed 
and  Divine  Master,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  of  glory. 
According  to  John,  "And  1  saw  thrones,  and  they  that  sat 
upon  them,  and  judgment  was  given  unto  them;  and  1  saw 
the  souls  of  them  that  were  beheaded  for  the  witness  of  Je- 
sus, and  for  the  word  of  God,  and  which  had  not  v\oi ship- 
ped the  beast,  neither  his  image,  neither  had  received  his 
mark  upon  their  foreheads,  or  in  their  hands;  and  they  lived 
and  reigned  with  Christ  a  thousand  years.''  This  will  be  a 
glorious  era  for  the  Church  of  Christ  upon  earth,  when  per- 
secution, contention  and  strife  will  rage  no  more  against  it; 
when  wai  sand  the  evil  consequences  thereof  shall  not  be 
known  during  this  period,  no  sin  nor  iniquity  possibly 
exist,  consequently  no  need  of  the  Judgments  from  the  Al- 
mighty, but  in  their  stead  will  flow  from  the  Holy  of  Holies 
blessings  in 

Rivers  refreshing  all 
On  this  terrestrial  ball: 

Of  peace,  love,  joy,  glory,  happiness  and  bliss.  We  shall 
then  be  filled  with  the  holy  qualities  of  Angels  and  sing  in 
divine  strains  the  praise  of  our  King  Emmanuel,  who  will 
be  to  us  a  crown  of  glory,  and  a  diadem  of  beauty.  O  what 
a  glorious  and  happy  company,  all  of  one  mind  and  soul  in 


ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION.  159 

Christ  in  one  allied;  these  verses  of  holy  King  David  will 
apply  so  perfectly  to  this  holy  and  peculiar  nation,  "Behold 
how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dvv«  II  together  in  unity." — 
It  is  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the  head,  that  ran  down 
upon  ihe  beard,  even  Aaron's  beard,  that  went  down  lo  the 
skirts  of  his  garmenis.  As  the  dew  of  Hermon,  and  as  the 
dew  that  descended  upon  the  mountains  of  Zion,  for  these 
the  Lord  commanded  the  blessing,  even  life  forevermore. — 
And  these  also  will  be  fulfilled,  when  every  one  will  be  em- 
ployed singing  praise,  "Praise  ye  the  Lord,  praise  ye  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  praise  him,  O  ye  servants  of  the  Lord. — 
Ye  that  stand  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  in  the  courts  of  the 
house  of  our  God;  praise  the  Lord  for  it  is  good;  sing  praise 
unto  him  for  it  is  pleasant.  For  God  has  chosen  Jacob  unto 
himself,  and  Israel  for  his  peculiar  treasure.  For  1  know 
that  the  Lord  is  great,  and  that  our  Lord  is  above  all  gods." 
Blessed  is  the  Lord  henceforth  and  forevermore.  1  shall 
conclude  with  the  following  lines,  which  beautifully  describe 
the  heavenly  period : 

Eternal  Father,  Prince  of  Peace, 

Omnipotent  thou  art; 
O  may  ihy  love  in  us  increase, 

Reign  thou  in  every  heart: 
All  knees  bow,  and  tongues  proclaim 
Thy  high,  exalted,  holy  Name. 

Lord  in  thy  peace  the  earth  abound, 

Exult  in  thee  alone, 
Sing  thy  praise  and  echoing  round, 

Does  centre  in  thy  throne; 
All  kindreds,  tongues,  and  people  sing 
And  worship  thee  Eternal  King. 

And  all  in  mystic  union  join 

In  thee  O  God,  below, 
A  perfect  holiness  combine, 

And  glory  in  thy  glow: 
All  kindreds,  tongues,  and  people  sing 
And  worship  thee  Eternal  King. 


160  ON  THE  FIRST  RESURRECTION. 

All  now  as  Saints  and  Angels  praise, 

In  holy  strains  divine, 
And  heaven  and  earth  sing  thy  lays. 

Submissive  at  thy  shrine; 
All  kindreds,   tongues,  and    people  sing 
And  worship  thee  Eternal  King. 

Hallelujah'!  Hallelujah!!!     The  Lord  God  Omnipotent 
reigiieth.     The  King  of  Saints.     Amen  and  Amen. 


mSCOURSE  xtv. 

THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING. 

In  my  preceding  discourses  I  have  been  showing  the  glo- 
fious  dawn  of  the  millenium  and  the  resurrection  of  the 
Saints,  the  first  resurrection — as  it  is  termed — and  the  peace, 
joy,  and  happiness  we  shall  be  blessed  with  during  our  reign 
with  Christ,  our  anointed  Saviour,  God  and  King.  After 
this  holy,  heavenly  Jubilee  and  Sabbath  of  a  thousand  years 
is  ended,  the  Almighty  Father  will  invite  and  receive  to  his 
holy  court  all  these  terrestrial  sons  of  light;  and  therefore, 
by  consequence  we  shall  ail  be  wafted  into  the  regions  of 
Eternal  Light,  and  administered  unto  the  Most  High  in  the 
Holy  of  Holies. 

Alter  this  being  accomplished  Satan  shall  be  liberated,  ac- 
cording to  the  words  of  inspiration,  by  the  blessed  St.  John, 
"  And  when  the  thousand  years  are  expired,  Satan  shall  be 
loosed  out  of  his  prison."  And  quite  likely  with  him  those 
apostate  spirits  that  fell  with  him  from  their  first  estate,  and 
which  were  together  with  him  cast  into  the  earth,  bound  in 
chains  in  darkness  unto  the  judgment  of  the  great  day;  and 
which  made  such  dreadful  havoc  among  the  children  of  men 
alienating  them  from  their  iViaker  and  leading  them  into  the 
way  of  all  sin,  and  iniquity,  and  abomination,  so  that  in  all 
ages,  with  few  exceptions,  these  was  an  apostate  race,  a 
degraded  people,  delighting  in  committing  depredation  and 
crime,  and  in  their  estrangement  from  the  exalted  Image  in 
which  man  was  created,  to  be  a  praise  and  a  glory  to  his 
Maker.  And  instead  of  returning  to  him  they  severed  the 
ties  that  bound  them  yet  further,  and  under  the  influence  of 
their  satanic  master,  plunged  at  times  into  ocean  depth  of 
iniquity,  as  at  the  flood,  and  at  the  time  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah, 

IS 


162  THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING, 

The  devil  has  been  the  cause  of  all  the  evil  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world;  of  the  wars,  cruel  fightings,  persecu- 
tions and  bloodshed;  of  wrath,  malice  and  hatred,  of  pride, 
envy  and  revenge,  and  all  contention  and  strife;  not  only  by 
exciting  the  passions  of  his  followers  to  persecute  and  commit 
these  crimes  upon  the  Saints  of  the  Most  High,  but  among 
his  own  children,  these  crimes  were  always  more  or  less  de- 
veloped, and  put  into  practice;  nation  against  nation,  and 
individual  against  individual;  if  not  murder  in  every  case,  its 
concomitant  qualities  were  exercised,  in  almost  every  in- 
stance, to  traduce  and  defame  one  another. 

Thus  wretchedness  and  misery  were  the  general  inmates 
of  the  abodes  of  men  on  the  earth;  peace  had  fled  far  from 
their  dwellings — verily  it  is  a  precious  ingredient,  not  conge- 
nial  to  the  cause  of  depravity  and  ungodliness,  and  therefore 
not  attributed  by  the  Prince  of  Peace  to  wicked  men,  but 
the  contrary  is  denounced,  "there  is  no  peace  for  the  wicked, 
saith  our  God."  Our  God,  with  the  inspired  writer,  is  *'^He 
who  inhabits  Eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy,  who  dwelleth 
in  the  High  and  Holy  Place,  also  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
are  of  broken  hearts  and  contrite  spirits,  to  bind  up  the  bro- 
ken hearts  and  to  revive  the  contrite  spirits."  Thus,  herein 
is  made  manifest  the  source  of  the  stream  of  peace,  which 
in  all  ages  pervaded  the  saints  of  the  Most  High,  and  uni- 
ted them  in  love  and  salvation,  through  Christ  in  Plim  in  one; 
and  thus  they  had  peace,  although  in  the  world  they  had 
tribulation;  as  the  same  beloved  disciple,  for  our  consolation, 
informs  us,  in  his  gospel,  in  the  words  of  our  blessed  Sa- 
viour, "Peace  1  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you, 
not  as  the  world  giveth  give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart 
be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid."  And  also,  "  These 
things  I  have  spoken  unto  you,  that  in  me  ye  might  have 
peace.  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation,  but  be  of 
good  cheer,  I  have  overcome  the  world  " 

In  the  Prince   of  Peace,  therefore,  all  his  followers  had 
peace  and  salvation  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the 


THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING.  1 63 

end  of  time;  for  he  expressly  says,  "I  am  Alpha  and  Omega, 
the  beginning  and  the  ending,  and  the  first  and  the  last;"  by 
consequence  he  is  the  Judge,  and  all  will  be  judged  and  re- 
warded according  to  their  works  by  him;  therefore  be  ye  all 
warned  if  ye  value  your  souls  and  eternal  welfare,  to  make 
your  peace  with  him,  otherwise  you  will  shortly  be  ushered 
before  him,  and  find  in  him,  not  the  mild  and  easy-to-be-en- 
treated Saviour— as  he  might  have  been  to  you — while  in 
time — but  the  inexorable  judge,  who  will  have  you  quickly 
banished  out  of  his  presence,  and  cast  into  outer  darkness, 
where  there  shall  be  eternal  torments,  as  I  shall  show  \ou 
more  fully  as  I  proceed.     Abraham  had  peace  in  this  glori- 
ous Prince,  he  saw  him  afar  off,  and  believed  in  him,  which 
was  counted  unto  bim  for  righteousness;  so  had  Moses,  "who 
choose  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than 
to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season;  esteeming  the  re- 
proach of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  in  Egypt, 
for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompence  of  reward;"  and  so 
had  David,  who  sang  so  sweetly;  Isaiah,  who  prophesied  so 
full  and  clear  of  his  advent  and  mission,  and  final  triumph 
over  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  accomplishment  of  salva- 
tion: these,  together  with  all  the  Did  and  New  Testament 
Saiiits,  rejoiced  in  him,  and  through  the  riches  of  his  salva- 
tion, ended  their  course  with  joy,  and  are  now  inheriting  in 
common  with  the  Holy  Angels,  the  mansions  on  high;  and 
likewise  thousands  since  have  been  blessed  through  him, 
with  the  same  richness  of  grace,  love,  joy,  peace,  in  short, 
full  salvation,  and   all  the  fruits  of  the  spirit,  and  are  now 
likewise  partaking  of  the  same  blessings  with  the  blessed  on 
High;  and  we  who  remain  by  a  retrograde  faith,  can  behold, 
wiih  this  amiable  disciple,  "his  glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  on- 
ly begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace   and    truth,"  and 
follow  him  the  whole  round  of  his  obedient  pilgrimage — for 
we  possess  a  chart  where  his  way  is  laid  down  and  described, 
and  are  privileged  far  above  the  ancients,  and  by  consequence 
there  will  be  less  excuse  for  those  that  die  in  their  sins;  as 


IC4  THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING. 

his  words,  which  we  have  so  abundantly,  and  which  shall 
judge  every  one  on  the  last  day,  have  been  unheeded,  his 
blood  trampled  under  foot,  his  love,  his  great  love,  wherewith 
he  loved  us  so  as  to  lay  down  his  life  on  Calvary,  been 
slighted,  and  despite  done  to  his  Holy  Spirit;  all  that  have 
thus  lived  and  thus  died,  have;  nothing  to  expect  from  him  in 
the  eternal  world  but  his  fiery  indignation,  which  shall  con- 
sume his  adversaries.  "Ah,  1  will  ease  me  of  my  adversa- 
ries, and  avenge  me  of  mine  enemies,"  sailh  the  Lord,  the 
Lord  of  Hosts,  the  Mighty  One  of  Israel.  Therefore  I 
would  persuade  you  again  be  reconciled  unto  Jehovah;  m 
making  of  frienrls  make  liim  your  h'iend  above  all  others, 
he  will  be  a  friend  in  need,  a  friend  in  time,  on  the  judgment 
morning,  and  through  all  eternit> ;  and  verily  a  friend  in  word 
and  in  deed,  for  his  words  and  his  deeds  are  all  "Yea  and 
Amen." 

Yes  verily,  we  are  favored  far  above  the  ancients  in  the 
clearness  of  oit  blessed  Saviour's  deeds,  his  sufferings,  his 
death,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  second  coming  to  judge 
the  world  in  righteousness.  We  have  his  own  words,  which 
spejik  life  and  everything  desirable  that  could  contribute  to 
the  happiness  ef  tnse  believers  in  time  and  in  eternity,  and 
aho  his  words  which  speak  death  aud  excruciating  torments 
to  the  unbelievers  forever  ^nd  ever.  As  the  tree  falls  so  it 
lifs;  as  the  sinner  dies  so  he  must  appear  before  the  judgment 
seat  of  Christ. 

"It  is  appointed  unto  all  men  once  to  die,  and  after  that 
the  ju('gmeui;'''  and  as  the  uords  of  Christ  shall  judge  all, 
therefore  v^  e  whojudae  ourselves  by  those  words  in  time, 
that  i«,  repent  of  all  t)ur  pins  and  ungodly  deeds,  which  we 
have  ungodly  romrintted,  and  love  the  Lord  God  with  all 
our  hearts  and  walk  with  him  through  faith  in  Christ,  in  per- 
fect holiness,  thus  die  (jff  from  the  old  man  and  put  on  the 
new,  which  after  G(  d  is  rieat('d  in  righteousness  and  true 
holiness,  become  thus  dead  to  the  world,  the  lusts  of  the 
ilesh,  and  the    pride  of  life,  and  alive  unto  God;  have  our 


THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING.  165 

names  written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life;  a  part  in  the  first 
resurrection,  on  whom  the  second  death  hath  no  power,  be- 
cause we  keep  his  words  and  commandments  to  do  them; 
thus  we  fulfill  both  laws,  that  of  works,  and  that  of  faith 
and  love  unto  our  God  and  Saviour,  and  shall  therefore  reign 
with  him  as  Kings  and  Priests,  forever  and  ever. 

"But  the  wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell,  with  all  the 
nations  that  forget  God."  F^or  behold  the  Lord  will  come 
with  fire,  and  with  his  chariots  like  a  whirlwind,  to  render 
his  anger  with  fury,  and  his  rebukes  with  flames  of  fire."  He 
is  thus  coming  at  the  end  of  time,  after  Satan  shall  have- 
gone  forth  "to  deceive  the  nations  in  the  four  quarters  of 
the  earth,  Gog  and  Magog,  to  gather  them  together  to  battle, 
the  number  of  whom  is  as  the  sand  of  the  sea."  We  may 
well  supnose  that  the  devil  will  be  raving  mad— after  being 
liberated  out  of  his  dungeon — and  will  rush  over  the  earth 
as  a  foaming  torrent,  with  redoubled  violence  and  hatred 
against  God,  and  his  peculiar  people,  which  shall  then  be 
pilgrims  on  earth,  and  not  content  by  persecutmg  the  true 
church  of  Christ,  going  about  as  a  roaring  Lion  seeking 
whom  he  may  devour,  he  will  even  ascend  with  his  slaves 
"on  the  breadth  of  the  earth,  and  compass  the  camp  of  the 
Saints  about,  and  beloved  city;  and  fire  shall  come  down 
from  God  out  of  heaven  and  devour  them."  And  the  devil 
that  deceived  them  shall  be  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  and 
brimstone,  where  the  beast  and  the  false  prophets  are,  and 
shall  be  tormented  day  and  night  forever  and  ever."  Thus 
we  find  to  the  end  that  the  God  of  the  wicked  is  not  our 
God,  JEHOVAH!  as  he  shall  be  quickly  overthrown  and 
cast  back  into  hell  with  all  his  followers,  shortly  after  to  be 
brought  forth  and  judged  by  saints  and  angels,  and  Christ, 
who  is  God  over  all,  blessed  forevermore. 

Yes  verily,  the  wheels  of  time  are  hastening  on  apace,  are 
rolling  rapidly  towards  the  verge  of  eternity,  when  the  great 
^•Arch-Angel  shall  stand  with  one  foot  on  the  seaard  the 
other  on  the  land,  lift  up  his  hand  towards  heaven,  and  swear 


166  THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING. 

by  Him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever,  that  time  shall  be  no 
longer."  Then  the  earth  shall  quake,  be  rent,  and  roll  to  and 
fro,  and  the  powers  of  heaven  shall  be  shaken;  the  sun  shall 
become  black  as  sackcloth  of  hair,  and  the  moon  as  blood; 
the  stars  of  heaven  shall  be  precipitated  upon  the  earth,  ''as 
a  fig  tree  casteth  her  untimely  figs  when  she  is  shaken  of  a 
mighty  wind;"  even  the  very  heavens  shall  depart  as  a 
scroll  when  it  is  roiled  together;  the  whole  firmament  shall 
be  shaken  to  the  centre;  the  mountains  shall  tremble,  be 
rent  and  tumble  to  the  earth,  and  the  islands  be  moved  out 
of  their  places.  Then  shall  there  be  distress,  lamentation? 
and  woe,  such  as  has  never  been  heard  upon  the  earth  be- 
fore, "When  the  Kings  of  the  earth,  and  the  great  men,  and 
the  rich  men,  and  the  chief  captains,  and  the  mighty  men, 
and  every  bond-man,  and  every  free-man,  shall  hide  thenv 
selves  in  the  dens  and  in  the  rocks  of  the  mountains,  and 
say  to  the  mountains  and  rocks  fall  on  us,  and  hide  us 
from  the  face  of  Him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  from 
the  wrath  of  the  Lamb;  for  the  great  day  of  his  wrath  is 
come,  and  who  shall  be  able  to  stand?"  Thanks  be  to 
God,  we  shall  be  able  to  stand  who  have  previously  made 
our  peace  with  him;  washed  our  robes  and  made  them  white 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb;  and  have  "kept  his  command- 
ments, therefore,  we  sha  1  have  a  right  to  the  tree  of  Life 
and  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city: 

*'  The  city  so  holy  and  clean, 

No  sorrow  can  breathe  in  the  air; 
No  gloom  of  afilction  or  sin, 

No  shadow  of  evil  is  there  ! 
The  Saints  in  His  favor  receive 

Their  great  and  eternal  reward, 
In  Jesus,  in  heaven  they  live, 

They  reign  in  the  smile  of  their  Lord." 

We  therefore  shall  be  able  to  endure  and  ever  to  rejoice, 
because  we  have  made  God  our  refuge,  through  Christ  the 
Judge,  who  is  now  our  friend,  and  saves  us  from  standing  in 
the  judgment  with  the  wicked;  yea  he  even  first  opens  all 


THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING,  l-G? 

the  graves  of  his  Saints,  trains  and  transforms  us  into  An- 
gels, and  gathers  us  around  his  throne  to  pass  testimony 
against  his  enemies,  our  persecutors,  who  would  have  none 
of  our  reproofs,  nor  the  holmess  of  our  Divine  Master,  and 
consequently  are  thus  overtaken  and  overw^helmed  in  con- 
fusion and  dismay,  consternation  and  terror;  running  about 
to  hide  themselves  from  his  glorious  appearing;  when  the 
heavens  shall  disappear,  and  the  elements  melt  with  fervent 
heat,  the  earth,  the  earth  also  be  burned  with  fire.  And 
when  the  Son  of  Man  shall  come  in  His  glory,  and  all  the 
holy  angels  with  Him,  then  sliall  He  sit  upon  the  throne  of 
His  Glory.  For  the  Lord  Himself  shall  descend  from 
Heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  Arch-angel,  and 
with  the  trump  of  God;  and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first. 
Then  we  which  are  alive  and  remain,  shall  be  caught  up 
together  with  them  in  the  clouds  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air, 
who  will  say  unto  us,  "Come  ye  blessed  of  my  F'ather,  in- 
herit the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.  And  so  shall  we  be  ever  with  the  Lord  because 
we  have  overcome,  be  seated  within  his  throne,  while  all  the 
wicked  at  the  word  of  His  power  will  be  gathered  before 
us;  the  graves  open,  the  dead  come  forth  to  stand  before 
Christ,  the  Judge,  and  the  devil  with  all  his  legions  from  hell 
shall  be  assembled  before  the  Jehovah-judge  and  his  Saints 
and  Angels,  to  hear  their  last  doom  pronounced  upon  them, 
O  what  an  enormous  multitude  will  then  be  assembled;  all 
the  hosts  of  heaven.  Angels  and  Saints  on  etherial  thrones 
suspended  around  the  King  of  Glory,  the  Judge  of  the  wick- 
ed, while  the  conflagration  of  the  earth  will  be  going  on  be- 
neath, and  the  devils  and  all  their  co-workers,  from  Cain  to 
the  very  last  of  them  in  despair,  trembling  om  the  brink  ot 
fire  and  brimstone,  the  earth  nearly  dissolved;  the  judge  will 
seal  their  doom  in  words  of  thunder,  "Depart  from  me  ye 
cursed  into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his 
Angels."  And  immediately  they  will  all  be  cast  together 
into  the  furnace  of  fire,  where  there  shall  be  weeping  and 
gnashing  of  teeth  forever  and  ever. 


les  THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING. 

Hear  also  what  St  John  says,  "And  1  saw  a  great  white- 
throne  and  him  that  sat  on  it,  from  whose  face  the  earth  and 
the  heavens  fled  away,  and  there  was  found  no  place  for 
them.  And  1  saw  the  dead  small  and  great  stand  before 
God;  and  the  books  were  opened,  and  another  book  was 
opened,  which  is  the  book  of  life;  and  the  dead  were  judged 
out  of  those  things  which  were  written  in  the  books  accord- 
ing to  their  works.  And  the  sea  gave  up  the  dead  which 
were  in  it;  and  death  and  hell  dehvered  up  the  dead  which 
were  in  them,  and  they  w^ere  judged  every  man  according 
to  their  works.  And  death  and  hell  were  cast  into  the  lake 
of  fire.  This  is  the  second  death.  And  whosoever  was 
not  found  written  in  the  book  of  life  was  cast  into  the  lake 
of  fire.*"  And  thus  these  awful  words  of  our  Lord  are  made 
manifest  upon  them,  "They  that  worship  the  beast  and  his 
image,  and  receive  his  mark  in  their  foreheads  or  in  their 
bands,  the  same  shall  drink  of  the  wine  of  the  wrath  of  God, 
which  is  poured  out  without  mixture  into  the  cup  of  his  in- 
dignation,  and  they  shall  be  tormented  with  fire  and  brim- 
stone in  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Angels,  and  in  the  pres- 
ence  of  the  Lamb;  and  the  smoke  of  their  torments  ascend- 
ethup  forever  and  ever,  and  they  have  no  rest  day  nor  night, 
who  worship  the  beast  and  his  image,  and  whosoever  re- 
ceiveth  the  mark  of  his  name."  Yea  verily,  these  things 
will  all  come  to  pass,  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  has  spoken 
it,  and  the  time  is  near  at  hand  when 

The  blowing  of  the  last  trumpet, 
Come  to  judgment  to  be  judged! 
Like  thunder  through  the  air  abounds, 
Amid  the  commingling  of  sounds 
Of  burning  things  and  falling  mounts. 

The  judge  comes  long  way  through  clusters 
Of  worlds  and  planets  whose  lustres, 
Dim'd  by  his  superior  glory, 
And  his  celestial  company, 
All  resplendent  in  briUiancy. 


THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING.  161> 

While  the   trump  continues  sounding, 
Are  changing  to  immortality 
All  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
All  the  righteous  that  did  not  die, 
And  those  from  graves  does  glorify. 

The  Angels  flying  all  about 

To  receive  us  up  in  the  cloud, 

* 'Welcome,  welcome  with  our  King  go, 

To  the  land  where  milk  and  honey  flow, 

And  nothing  but  sweet  pleasures  know.'* 

O  ye  gates  swing  apart,  the  most 
The  King  of  Glory  comes  with  his  host, 
Who  is  the  King  of  Glory?  Who? 
The  God  infinite  that  all  foreknew, 
Jesus,  who  worlds  to  atoms  threw. 

Let  in,  ye  pearly  gates!  'part  swing. 
The  lovely  train  with  Glory's  King; 
O  who  is  Glory's  King,  O  who? 
The  Word  by  whom  all  things  came  new, 
Lord  of  Hosts  and  Holy  One  too. 

And  swings  the  gates  and  passes  through. 
The  King  of  Glory  with  retinue; 
Who  is  the  King  of  Glory  ?  Who  ? 
The  Almighty  that  all  things  can  do. 
All  praise  and  blessings  him  are  due. 

Glory,  honor,  dominion  and  power, 
To  God  our  Omnipotent  Father, 
And  our  Prince  of  Peace  Almighty; 
With  the  Holy  Ghost,  O  Glory! 
Hallelujah!!  to  the  One  Three. 

Holy  !!  Holy  !!!  Holy  !!!!  Holy  !!!!! 
Art  Thou  Glorious; 
Hosanna!  Hosanna!!  Hosan'a!!! 
Hallelujah!!!  Hallelujah!!!! 
Hallelujah  ! ! ! !     Hallelujah  ! !  !  !  ! 
Amen  !  Amen  !!  Amen  !!!  Amen  !!!! 

Ere  the  departure  of  the  host, 
Surround'ng  the  Lord  of  Canaan's  coast, 
On  clouds  all  around  suspended. 
More  solemn  and  shrill  blasts  the  trumpet, 
Arise!  'rise  to  be  judged,  judg'd. 


170  THE  JUDGMENT  MORNING. 

Satan,  and  from  the  depths  of  hell 

They  come,  with  hideous  looks  and  tremble, 

And  from  the  graves,  caverns,  and  rocks, 

And  Oceans  all,  in  woeful  flocks. 

To  receive  reward  for  their  mocks. 

The  world,  which  was  all  their  delight; 
Burning  falls  before  Jesus'  might; 
The  King  of  Glory  who  was  slain 
For  the  world's  guilt,  is  here  again, 
And  will  forever,  ever  reign. 

The  book  of  life  does  not  contain, 
Of  the  dejected  crowd,  a  name; 
Christ  with  justice  imperative. 
And  solemn  tone,  His  sentence  give. 
Ye  cannot  and  ye  shall  not  live. 

Depart  from  me,  I  ne'er  knew  ye. 
With  the  devils  forever  be; 
To  hell's  blackness  and  darkness  doom. 
Amid  burning  sulphur'cus  fume, 
Solid  night  and  eternal  gloom. 

Be  forever  driven  to  and  fro. 
With  gnashing  and  weeping  and  woe. 
And  excruciating  torment. 
The  frame  unceasmgly  rend, 
And  smoke  perpetually  ascend. 


DISCOURSE   XV. 

THE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  NEW  EARTH. 

And  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earthy  for  the  first  heaven 
and  the  first  earth  were  passed  away^  and  they  were  no 
more.  \_Rev.^\st  chap.  \st  verse. 

We  frequently  read  in  the  Old  Testament,  in  the  language 
of  Jehovah,  that  at  some  future  day  the  heavens  and  the 
earth  shall  be  destroyed  with  a  complete,  entire,  and  ever- 
lasting destruction,  so  that  not  a  vestige  of  the  old  fabric 
should  remain,  wherein  and  whereupon  Satan,  ihe  old  beast, 
practiced  his  abominations;  the  glorious  heavens  wh^re  he 
commenced  his  career  of  rebellion  against  the  blessed  God, 
creator  of  the  Universe,  who  called  into  being  the  glorious 
Cherubims  and  Seraphims,  Angels  and  Arch  angels,  all  the 
holy  hosts,  to  attend  his  Omnipotent,  Divine  Majesty,  lu  the 
Courts  of  his  glory;  here  in  heaven,  in  the  holy  of  holies,  in 
the  effulgence  of  the  Most  High,  King  of  all  worlds,  this 
spirit  of  the  morning  began  his  conjuring  among  his  fellow 
beings  of  light  to  undermine  and  overthrow  if  possibl<i^,  the 
throne  of  the  eternal;  but  in  this  he  failed,  his  subtle  in- 
ventions and  plans  were  frustrated;  although  legions  of  an- 
gels had  been  seduced  by  his  artifice  and  were  now  under  his 
control.  The  eye  of  Omniscience  however,  saw  through 
the  huge  edifice  they  were  erecting,  traced  it  to  the  centre, 
and  discovered  him  who  laid  the  foundation  of  this  daring, 
this  monstrous  abomination;  and  the  finger  of  the  Almighty 
pointed  him  out  in  derision  to  his  shining  hosts,  who  kept 
their  first  estate,  adhered  to  him,  and  willingly  and  obediently 
served  their  Master  in  love  and  holiness;  remaining  faithful 
and  honorable  ambassadors  to  the  King  of  Glory,  who  also 
honored  and  exalted  them  in  turn,  while  this  foul  spirit,  this 


172        TEE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  NEW  EARTH. 

devil,  was  looked  upon  with  scorn  and  contempt,  was  a  de- 
graded wretch,  and  an  abhorrence  to  all  the  innocent  in  the 
Holy  Place,  and  the  Lord  God  bound  him  in  chains  of  dark- 
ness, with  all  his  followers,  and  cast  them  out  of  his  presence. 

The  devil  with  all  the  apostate  spirits  being  cast  out  of 
Jieaven,  were  permitted  to  take  refuge  in  the  earth  until  the 
great  and  notable  day  of  the  Lord,  then  to  be  cast  into 
the  Lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,  prepared  for  them  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world.  No  sooner  had  the  Almighty 
created  man  to  inhabit  the  earth,  whom  he  created  in 
his  own  Image,  innocent  and  holy  as  the  angels  in 
heaven,  than  this  arch  fiend  went  to  work  to  deface 
this  the  fairest  and  most  celestial  of  all  the  creatures 
upon  earth,  and  succeeded  but  too  well,  as  all  know  who  are 
conversant  with  the  revelations  of  God,  who  read  and  med- 
itate on  the  word  of  truth  as  recorded  in  the  Bible;  and  all 
may  also  learn  the  awful  consequences  of  the  fall  of  our 
first  parents,  the  curse  entailed  by  Jehovah  upon  them  and 
all  their  posterity  to  the  end  of  time,  and  the  dreadful  de- 
pravity which  immediately  ensued  under  this  Satanic  prince 
of  darkness;  the  crimes  which  were  perpetrated  under  his 
instigation;  even  the  very  first  ofifspring  of  Adam  and  Eve 
became  a  murderer  under  Beelzebub  his  father,  who  is  dread- 
fully averse  to  every  thing  holy  and  divine,  and  thus  at  the 
very  beginning  gave  vent  to  his  malice  against  God  and  his 
saints,  and  through  Cain  he  slew  Abel. 

As  the  earth  became  more  populous  his  bloody  crimes 
became  more  frequent,  and  sin  and  iniquity  and  abomination 
to  abound,  so  that  man,  whom  the  Lord  God  created  for  an 
honor  and  a  praise,  became  an  abhorrence  in  his  sight,  and 
it  grieved  the  Lord  that  he  had  made  him  at  all  on  the  earth. 
So  it  was  at  the  flood  when  the  Lord  destroyed  them  all  save 
Noah  and  his  family;  if  he  did  not  destroy  the  earth  upon 
which  they  revelled — but  kept  it  for  a  future  day — he  des- 
troyed the  whole  world,  that  is,  all  the  serpent's  seed;  so  at 
the  destruction  of  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  with 


THE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  NEW  EARTH.        173 

all  the  plains;  and  since  then  the  terrible  depopulating  of 
countries  by  the  Ahiiighty.  Overthrow  of  nations  and  des- 
truction of  people  testify  to  the  truth  of  his  words:  "The 
wicked  shall  be  destroyed  with  an  everlasting  destruction, 
and  all  the  nations  that  forget  God  shall  be  turned  into  hell/' 

The  earth,  as  in  my  last  discourse,  the  earth  shall  posi- 
tively be  destroyed,  for  the  mouth  of  Him  who  cannot  lie, 
the  Lord,  has  spoken  it.  The  heavens  shall  depart,  and  the 
earth  melt  with  fervent  heat.  Then  the  lofty  looks  of  men 
shall  be  humbled,  and  the  haughtiness  of  men  shall  be  bowed 
down,  and  the  Lord  alone  shall  be  exalted;'^  and  then  also 
shall  vengeance  be  taken  upon  the  devil,  the  old  serpent,  and 
satan,  and  all  his  wicked  and  degraded  folio *vers,  which 
shall  all  be  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,  to  be 
tormented  forever  and  ever.  Consult  Isaiah,  1 4th  chapter, 
for  the  following:  How  art  thou  conquered  and  destroyed 
O  Lucifer,  how  art  thou  cut  down  which  didst  weaken  the 
nations!  ''for  thou  hast  said  in  thy  heart,  I  will  ascend  into 
heaven,  I  will  exalt  my  throne  above  the  stars  of  God;  I 
will  sit  also  upon  the  mount  in  the  congregation,  in  the  sides 
of  the  north;  1  will  ascend  above  the  heights  of  the  clouds; 
Twill  be  like  the  Most  High;"  and  now  art  thou  brought  down 
even  into  the  pit,  and  Jehovah  alone  is  elevated,  worshi])ped, 
and  adored,  and  his  nan.e  glorified. 

The  heavens  being  disposed  of  wherein  Satan  first  trans- 
gressed, and  the  earth  whereon  he  had  his  career  of  filthi- 
ness,  and  which  was  saturated  with  blood,  and  the  beast 
was  permitted  to  persecute  the  saints  of  the  IVJost  High,  and 
slay  them  as  sheep,  and  whereon  the  wicked  revelled,  fought 
and  tore  each  other  like  wild  beasts;  robbed,  oppressed,  de- 
frauded and  murdered  one  another,  revelled  in  adulteries, 
fornications,  and  that  which  is  almost  a  shame  to  mention — 
abuse  one  another's  bodies  between  themselves — he-dog 
with  he-dog,  in  acts  that  were  unseemly  and  against  nature. 
O  the  stmk  which  used  to  ascend  from  their  filthy  abomina- 
tions to  offend  the  nostrils  of  Jehovah    and  all   holiness, 


174        THE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  NEW  EARTH. 

instead  of  holy  praise,  thanks  and  blessings.  I  marvel  not 
therefore  that  it  grieved  my  blessed,  holy  father,  that  he  had 
made  man  upon  the  earth,  since  by  tiieir  filthy  father,  the 
devil's  mventions,  they  became  debased  below  the  most  filthy 
of  all  his  other  animals,  and  consequently  a  disgrace  to  the 
upright  stature  in  which  they  were  created,  and  no  wonder 
that  God  who  is  altogether  holy,  and  can  never  bear  iniquity, 
crushed  the  stinking  wretches  with  their  filthy  father  into 
fire  and  brimstone,  as  a  more  suitable  place  than  this  earth, 
to  say  nothing  of  heaven,  where  all  glory  abounds,  and  burnt 
the  earth  upon  which  they  wallowed  in  filthiness  beneath 
the  swine. 

Verily  the  Lord  God  has  at  length  redeemed  his  pledge, 
"Heaven  and  Earth  shall  pass  away,  but  my  words  shall  not 
pass  away  until  they  are  all  fulfilled.*"  The  wicked  with 
their  master,  which  had  a  desire  to  doubt  that  the  Lord 
could  really  destroy  this  (to  them)  so  fair  a  fabric,  by  saying 
"where  is  the  promise  of  his  commg,  for  the  heavens  were  of 
old  and  the  earth  stood  out  of  the  water  and  in  the  water!" 
but  now  they  can  no  more  sneer  at  the  words  of  Christ,  for 
are  they  not  now  overthrown  and  confounded,  are  they  not 
banished  out  of  the  glory  of  Christ?  yea  verily,  Christ  is  now 
also  ashamed  to  own  them,  as  they  while  in  time,  were  asha- 
med to  follow  him  in  the  regeneration,  believe  in  him,  love 
him,  and  keep  his  commandments  to  do  them.  O  ye  infidels 
and  criminal  persons,  where  is  now  the  earth  whereon  you 
revelled  and  which  you  took  for  your  portion?  it  has  under 
the  curse  of  the  Almighty,  vanished  as  a  vision,  and  your 
career  upon  it  will  be  remembered  by  you  in  sorrow  and 
despair,  and  cause  unutterable  pangs  of  anguish  of  soul, 
cries  and  torment,  throughout  a  never,  no  never-ending  eter- 
nity, and  what  will  aid  to  increase  your  eternal  hell  of  soul 
will  be  the  recollection  of  the  joys  you  have  wilfully  and 
madly  forfeited;  the  joys  and  glory  of  the  New  Jerusalem; 
the  joys  and  blessedness  of  the  saints  and  holy  angels  in  Je- 
hovah's glory,  whom  you  will  now  behold  above  on  a  throne 


THE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  NEW  EARTH,         175 

of  dazzling  splendour,  surrounded  by  his  Kings  and  Priests, 
the  Holy  Angels  and  Saints,  all  shining  and  reflecting  like 
suns  and  stars  the  lustre  and  effulgence  of  the  Deity;  shed- 
ding great  glory  all  around,  and  into  the  pit,  upon  the  devil 
and  you  his  poor,  miserable  and  subdued  legions,  but  for 
which  you  would  be  in  outer,  in  utter  darkness;  your  eyes 
of  flesh  will  be  dimmed  by  the  resplendent,  beatific  vision, 
and  increased  horror  will  fill  your  poor  souls,  and  this  will 
be  yet  more  and  more  heightened  by  the  sweet,  heavenly, 
Angelic  music  from  millions  and  millions  of  glorified  Beings 
celebrating  the  triumphs  of  our  Glorious  King;  the  vibrations 
and  resoundings  of  innumerable  harps,  lyres,  and  golden 
instruments,  set  in  motion  by  the  most  exquisite,  superlative, 
seraphic  touches,  accompanied  by  th^^  melodious  singing  of 
the  celestial  Bride,  rejoicing  in  her  triumphant  and  glorious 
Bridegroom. 

Jehovah  having  completed  his  designs  as  respects  the  old 
world  and  its  inhabitants,  the  devil  and  his  followers  are 
shut  up  and  sealed  in  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone  forever. 
By  the  word  of  the  Omnipotent  a  new  heavens  and  a  new 
earth  will  be  immediately  created  for  the  Holy  Angels  and 
Saints,  all  the  redeemed  from  the  earth,  wherein  all  right- 
eousness and  holiness  shall  abound,  and  it  shall  differ 
in  other  respects  from  the  old  heavens  and  earth,  inasmuch 
as  there  shall  be  neither  sun,  moon,  nor  stars,  &c.  for  the 
effulgent  Glory  of  the  Deity  shall  illuminate  the  same,  nei- 
ther shall  there  be  darkness  nor  night,  but  one  eternal  noon. 
"And  I  saw  no  temple  therein,  for  the  Lord  God  Almighty 
and  the  Lamb  are  the  temple  of  it.  And  the  city  had  no 
need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon  to  shine  in  it,  for  the 
glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  there- 
of. And  the  nations  of  them  which  are  saved  shall  walk  in 
the  light  of  it.  And  there  shall  be  no  more  curse,  but  the 
throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb  shall  be  in  it,  and  his  ser- 
vants shall  serve  him,  and  they  shall  see  his  face,  and  his  name 
shall  be  in  their  foreheads,  and  they  shall  reign  forever  and 


176    THE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  NEW  EARTH. 

Eye  hath  not  seen,  neither  hath  ear  heard  the  joys  prepa- 
red for  those  that  love  God,  for  those  who  were  the  called 
and  chosen  according  to  his  purpose,  all  the   redeemed  of 
the  Lamb,  who  washed  and  made  themselves  clean  through 
faith  in  his  blood;  we  shall  all  be  like  unto  the  Holy  Angels, 
and  together  contribute  the  constellation  of  the  New  Heav- 
ens and  the  New  Earth.     Yea  verily,  we  shall  all  be  burn- 
ing luminaries,  suns,  and  stars,  reflecting  the  splendor  o(  Je- 
hovah; forever  behold  his  glorious  lace  and  dwell  in  his  glori- 
ous presence,  and  minister  unto  him  in  the  courts  of  his  glory. 
There  shall  be  joy  and  rejoicing  forevermore,  the  most  exqui- 
site, soul-exalting,  and  perfect  music  on  innumerable  harps, 
lyres,  and  other  golden   instruments,  accompanied  by  num- 
berless millions  of  angelic  voices,  melodiously  singing  the 
high  praises  of  our  God   and   Saviour;  the  whole  expanse 
shall  resound  with  the  adoration  and  praise,  with  the  thanks 
and  blessings  of  the  holy  throng,  to  Jehovah,  our   God  and 
King,    who  alone  shall  be  worshipped,  and  that  by  all  in 
spirit  and  in  truth  and  in  the  beauties  of  holiness.     He  alone 
shall  reign  supreme  in  the  hearts  of  all  the  glorious  inhabit- 
ants of  this  Canaan  and  Celestial  Paradise  of  superlative 
holiness,  happiness  and  bliss.     Jehovah  alone  shall  be  sole 
Monarch,  and  all  shall  love,  honor,  and  obey  him;  manifest 
their  reverence  and  obedience  in  the  fulfilling  of  his  words 
and  commands;  lauding,  applauding,  magnifying,  and  attrib- 
uting all  the  glory  to  his  name.     A  perfect  bond  of  love,  joy, 
and  peace  shall  pervade  all,  unite  and  combine  them  through 
Christ  and  the  Holy  Spirit  in  God,  our  Holy  Father,  in  one. 
The  praise  and  worship  of  all  these  glorious  hosts  shall  com- 
mingle in  one  harmonious  whole,  and  everlastingly  ascend 
in  oderiferous  incense   before   the  glorious  Throne  of  Jeho- 
vah: "And  they  shall  sing  the  song  of  Moses  the  servant  of 
God,  and  the  song  of  the  Lamb,  saying,  Great  and  marvel- 
ous are  thy  works  Lord  God  Almighty;  just  and  true  are  thy 
ways,  thou  King  of  Saints.     Who  shall  not  fear  thee,  O 
Lord,  and  glorify  thy  name?  for  thou  only  art  holy.     And 


THE  NEW  HEAVEN  AND  NEW  EARTH.    .     177 

cry  with  a  loud  voice  saying,  Salvation  to  our  God  which  sit- 
teth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb."  And  all  the  re- 
deemed shall  be  about  the  throne  and  serve  God  in  his  holy 
temple  forevermore,  in  holiness  and  righteousness,  worship- 
ping and  singing,  crying,  Holy!  Holy!!  Holy!!!  Lord  God 
Almighty;  Hosanna!  Hosannal!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah II 
Hallelujah'.!!  The  Lord  God  Omnipotent,  the  King  of  Glory 
reigneth;  all  blessing,  and  glory,  and  wisdom,  and  thanksgiv- 
ing, and  honor,  and  power,  and  might,  be  unto  our  God  for- 
ever and  ever.     Amen. 

Angels  who  are  thy  peculiar  care, 

Adore  thee,  and  harps  and  lyres  string, 
Fill  harmoniously  the  air, 

Cause  the  etherial  domes  to  ring, 
Melodiously  sing, 
Jehovah,  God  and  King. 

Commingle  all  Celestial  Choirs, 

Emulate  with  divine  powers. 
With  Angelic  and  Seraphic  Lyres, 

Continue  'neath  Golden  towers, 
Thro'  etherial  bowers, 

Heavenly  fields  and  flowers. 

Re-echoed  by  circling  Jasper, 

To  our  Alpha  and  Omega, 
To  whom  be  glory,  thanks,  dominion, 

With  Fath'r,  Spirit,  and  JEHOVAH^ 
Hosanna  !  Hosanna !! 
HaUelujah  !  Hallelujah  ! ! 


THE    END. 


